REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHES. 109 



One hundred and eighteen drawings made by H. L. Todd and thirty- 

 five drawings made by W. S. D. Haines were examined and accepted. 

 An accurate census of the collection referred to elsewhere was made. 



The preparation of reports upon specimens sent to the Museum or to 

 the Fish Commission for examination has become an important feature 

 of the work of this department. 



SPECIAL RESEARCHES. 



In connection with Dr. G. Brown Goode a partial report was prepared 

 upon the fishes of the Blake. Thirteen species and two genera 

 were described in the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 

 Yol. xn, Jul}' - , 1886. The curator described some new fishes sent from 

 Mexico by Professor Duges. Other papers now in progress and well 

 advanced are the following : (1) Eeport on the Fishes of Great South 

 Bay, Long Island; (2) Eeport on the Fishes of Coznmel; (3) Synopsis 

 of the Fishes of Alaska; (4) Synopsis of the Salmonidse of North 

 America; (5) in connection with Dr. Goode, Report on the Deep-sea 

 Fishes ; (6) with Dr. Goode, A Study of the Fishes of the Atlantic 

 Basin. 



The curator was detailed by Professor Baird to make an investiga- 

 tion of the spring mackerel fishery in the schooner Grampus. He ac- 

 cordingly left Washington April 20, joined the vessel at Fortress Mon- 

 roe, and cruised with the mackerel fleet until May 31, when the spring 

 mackerel fishing was practically ended. He published letters de- 

 scriptive of this cruise in the Boston Herald of May 9 and 26 and June 

 6, and now has in preparation a more exhaustive report of the voyage 

 for the Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commission. 



The collections of the Museum have been utilized to a very large 

 extent by collaborators not belonging to the Museum force. Professor 

 Jordan and his assistants have published many extensive papers, which 

 are mentioned in the bibliography.* 



Prof. J. A. Byder has also published important embryological memoirs, 

 which are likewise included in the bibliography. 



A large number of specimens were at their request sent for study to 

 collaborators of the Smithsonian Institution. 



THE PRESENT STATE OF THE COLLECTION. 



The present state of the collection is about the same as at the time 

 of the last annual report, with the exception of some improvement in 

 the condition of the specimens in jars aud some additional deteriora- 

 tion in tanks. It will be found necessary for the safety of the tank 

 specimens to transfer them as far as possible into large glass vessels. 

 Eequisitions have been made for preserving material from time to time, 

 but so far we have not been able to obtain a sufficient quantity. 



The first entry number in the catalogue in July, 1886, was 37894, and 



*See Section IV of this report. 



