876 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISII AND FISHERIES. 
Several of the chief assistants were absent from Washington and 
consequently could not assume the duties assigned them until late in 
June. As the exposition opened on J nly 4, and much new material had 
to be prepared, packed, shipped, and installed, the outlook was dis- 
couraging. 
Mr. Seal had charge of the aquaria, and began making necessary 
arrangements for a live-fish display soon after the passage of the bill 
authorizing the Commission to participate in the exposition and con- 
siderably in advance of the preparation of other material. All the 
preparatory work was pushed with the utmost vigor; day after day 
every one labored late into the night until the collections were ready. 
The exhibit illustrating the scientific work of the Commission was 
brought together through the assistance of Mr. Rathbun, on whose 
recommendation Mr. M. P. Greenman was appointed to have charge of 
it; the fish-cultural exhibit was prepared under the joint direction of 
Mr. Worth and Mr. Page, and Dr. Bean acted as chief assistant in 
assembling and installing the material illustrative of the methods and 
relations of the fisheries, including the objects of fishery, statistics, etc. 
The preparation of the exhibit was facilitated by the withdrawal of 
certain material from the National Museum, together with a few cases 
and screens.* Early in July the material for the aquarial exhibit was 
shipped from Washington, and shortly thereafter the bulk of the other 
collections were forwarded. 
INSTALLATION AND CONDUCT OF EXHIBIT. 
Allotment of space .— The space allotted to the exhibit was so much less 
than was required that crowding of the collections was unavoidable. 
The arrangement of the collections had to conform, in a large measure, 
to the requirements of the live-fish exhibit. It had been decided that 
the most satisfactory location for this was against the wall of the north 
end of the annex, where a central space 45 feet long by 16 feet wide 
was allotted to it, in addition to the area required for a pond and addi- 
tional aquaria, as shown on the plan. The scientific and fish-cultural 
collections were placed on the east of the main entrance to the Fish 
Commission space, while the material illustrative of fisheries, etc., occu- 
pied the other side. 
The accompanying plan shows the relative positions of the several 
sections and the area covered by each. 
Offices , etc . — With the permission of the exposition authorities small 
annexes were built, wherein were located the filters, tools, and ice re- 
quired for the aquarial display, and also a small office room. 
"Almost without exception, the material withdrawn from the Museum constituted 
a part of the fisheries collection brought together by the Fish Commission, or 
included specimens obtained by the Commission in its scientific explorations and 
subsequently deposited in the Museum. 
