DEEP-SEA EXPLORING EXPEDITION 295 



this expedition consists of Professor Alexander Agassiz, in charge 

 of the scientific work, who will be accompanied by his son and 

 his personal assistants, Dr W. McM. Wood worth and Dr A. G. 

 Mayer, of the Museum of Comparative Zoolog}', Cambridge, 

 Mass. ; Dr H. F. Moore, chief naturalist of the Albatross; Mr 

 Charles H. Townsend, former naturalist, now chief of the fish- 

 eries division of the U. S. Fish Commission; Mr A. B. Alexan- 

 der, fishery expert, and Mr H. G. Fassett, photographer, both of 

 the U. S. Fish Commission. 



Opportunity will undoubtedly be afforded for conducting a 

 number of important collateral inquiries without detriment to 

 the regular scientific work. Advantage will be taken of every 

 chance to obtain for the National Museum specimens of the 

 mammals, birds, insects, and other land animals of the various 

 islands visited. A study of the aboriginal fishing methods, ap- 

 paratus, and boats, and the collection of specimens of the native 

 fishing appliances will be in charge of the fishery expert. 



The Smithsonian Institution has specially requested that the 

 Fish Commission make an effort to trace the origin of some of 

 the ethnological specimens brought back from the Pacific islands 

 by the Wilkes Exploring Expedition. Owing to the indifferent 

 care which the collection received during early years, many of 

 the labels were lost and the articles thus rendered practically 

 worthless. Photographs and descriptions of such specimens 

 will be furnished by the Smithsonian Institution in the hope 

 that the Albatross may ascertain something about them. Inas- 

 much as such an opportunity may never again arise to secure 

 for the National Museum articles illustrating the arts and cus- 

 toms of the natives of these isolated islands, which are rapidly 

 yielding to the influences of civilization, Commissioner Bowers 

 has notified the Smithsonian Institution that the naval and civil 

 attaches of the vessel will be given special instructions to be on 

 the lookout for desirable ethnological material. 



In order that the movements of the vessel in the islands to be 

 visited may be facilitated, the Department of State has, through 

 our ambassadors, notified the British, French, and German au- 

 thorities of the approaching cruise, and asked that tariff and 

 other regulations be waived. 



There is every reason to believe that this expedition will 

 yield valuable scientific results and will be creditable to the 

 country. It promises to be by far the most important marine 

 expedition on which the Fish Commission has embarked and 



