608 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



The Academy during this year curtailed its general activi- 

 ties to some extent in order to make possible an expedition 

 into the Gulf of California where collections were made for 

 the various departments. The results of this expedition are 

 fully covered in the report of the Director of the Museum 

 and in the reports of the Academy's curators, and nothing 

 remains to be said about it except that it was eminently suc- 

 cessful and has added materially to our knowledge of the 

 fauna and flora of a region that has long waited for thorough 

 scientific exploration. The Academy sincerely appreciates the 

 sacrifices of those who went on the expedition and is thank- 

 ful for the sustained effort of each, which was essential for 

 its success. 



It can now be announced that plans for the Steinhart 

 Aquarium have been approved by the City and Park author- 

 ities as also by the executors of the estate of the late Ignatz 

 Steinhart, and that bids for the construction thereof have 

 been called for. It is hoped that contracts for its construc- 

 tion can be entered into soon after March first. The apparent 

 delay in entering upon construction will prove of benefit to 

 the enterprise in two ways : first, because interest has been 

 accumulating and more money is therefore available than 

 named in the bequest; and second, because the cost of build- 

 ing is now considerably less than it was several years ago. 

 A year from now the Academy will be asking the City to 

 make provision for operation. 



The financial standing of the Academy is set forth in the 

 Treasurer's report. There have been no unusual sources of 

 income. Our regular income from rents and dues and sales 

 of publications and the like has been about $77,000. 



Among the receipts and expenditures of special note 

 attention may be called to the following : 



The Gulf of California Expedition sailed from San Fran- 

 cisco on April 2, 1921, chartered the schooner "Silver Gate" 

 at Guaymas, and spent three months in exploring the islands 

 and shores of the Gulf. The total expense of this expedition 

 was $8,515.22. 



The purchase of the Albert Prager Herbarium which has 

 been added to the collection of the Botanical Department dur- 



