TiiTirnirni annual report 



or THE 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



W. H. Holmes, Chief 



The operations of the Bureau of American Ethnology for 

 the fiscal year ended June 30, 1909, conducted in accordance 

 with the act of Congress making provision for continuing 

 researches relating to the American Indians, under direction 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, were carried forward in con- 

 formity with the plan of operations approved by the Secre- 

 tary June IS, 1908. 



As in previous years, the systematic ethnologic work of 

 the Biu'eau was intrusted mainly to the regular scientific 

 staff, which comprises eight members. As this force is not 

 large enough to give adequate attention to more than a 

 limited portion of the great field of research afforded by the 

 hundreds of Indian tribes, the deficiency was supplied in a 

 measure by enlisting the aid of other specialists in various 

 branches of ethnologic work. By this means the Bureau 

 was able to extend its researches in several du'ections at a 

 comparatively modest outlay. 



RESEARCH WORK 



The work of the Biu'eau for the year comprised : (A) The 

 continuation of various unfinished researches among the 

 Indian tribes and (B) the summarizing for publication of 

 available data from all som'ces. 



(A) The unfinished researches were in continuation of 

 systematic investigations ab'eady in hand and were essential 







