REP A.S8ISTAN1 DJ 29 



bulk of ili« i descriptive Labels are, as a rule, printed by the interna De 

 partmeut. During the year 1884, however, the Museum office pi 

 about 2,000 labels, or nearly one-half of all that were printed. These 

 were chiefly Labels for the collections sent to the expositions. 



Of each descriptive label there are twenty copies printed, ten ou 

 cardboard (graj <>r herbarium) and ten ou white paper; the former to be 

 shown w it ii t he objects and for the reserve file, and t he Lai ter for mak 

 ing catalogues of the collections and for general distribution to donors 

 and to other museums. The labels printed for the Fisheries collections 



which were sent to the London Exhibition in L883 have been reprinted 



in Bulletin 27 of the Museum, and form a complete index to the numer- 

 ous objects of flshiug implements and vessel models composing the col- 

 Lections. 



The care of the Labels requires the entire time of one- man. As soon 

 as received from the printer, a sample of each label is put in the scrap- 

 book series, as many as are needed for immediate use are sent to the cu- 

 rator in charge of the collections, and the remainder of the labels are 

 tiled in unit drawers, where they are arranged numerically by depart 

 incuts. An index is kept, by means of which a Label, designated bj its 

 number, can be referred to ikl once in the scrap -book and tiles. 



L3. PROGRESS OF GENERAL A.\J> INCIDENTAL WORK. 



(<t) Library. 



During the past year the usefulness of the library has been gradu- 

 ally increasing, although no very important additions have been re- 

 ceived. The additions for the year numbered about 700 books and 

 pamphlets, including many works of permanent value and practical 

 utility . Few purchases have been made, the principal sources of growth 

 being through exchange, gift, ami deposit. The various departments 

 of the Government, especially those engaged in scientific research, have 

 made many valuable contributions. The trustees of the British Mu- 

 seum have presented a large series of the catalogues and regular pub- 

 ions of thai institution. Progress has been made during the year 

 in the efforl to classify systematically the books in the library, but the 

 work has been greatly retarded owing to the insufficient force. The 

 Mention referred to is absolutely necessary for the proper admin- 

 istration of the library , and it is hoped that it may soon be practicable 

 to provide adequate means for this purpose. 



The iihr.uA system may be briefly described, as follows: In the ecu 

 tral library are retained ail books treating of more than one subject, 

 such as periodicals, proceedings of societies, serial reports, dictionaries, 

 and cyclopedias, toget her with such monographs as are not desired in the 

 .sectional libraries, which are in the several Museum laboratories at der 

 the charge of their respective curators. To the sectional libra rie 

 .■ah ilio.se works which relate directly to the work of th< 



