REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. I 73 



and of the preparation of the monthly account of the weather for 

 publication in the bulletins of the Agricultural Department j one half 

 of his salary is paid by the Commissioner of Agriculture and the 

 other half from the Smithson fund. 



An assistant is also -required to attend to the care of the books in the 

 library, and another to prepare the catalogue of the transactions of 

 learned societies now in the press, and to perform the clerical duties 

 connected with the system of foreign exchange. The former ser- 

 vice for the last few years has been rendered by Dr. Theodore Gill, 

 who, at the same time, has continued his investigations in regard to 

 zoology. The latter duty has been performed by Miss Jane Turner, 

 the sister of the lamented Professor Turner, whose name occurs so 

 frequently in the previous reports of the Institution. 



As one of the maxims to be observed in the policy of the Institu- 

 tion, but few persons are to be permanently supported by its funds. 

 This maxim has been strictly observed in regard to the principal as- 

 sistants, but it must be evident that, in the case of so large a building 

 and its contents, and so many and various operations to be attended 

 to, a number of employes will be constantly required. The con- 

 nexion of these, however, with the Institution is considered of 

 a temporary character, their numbers being increased or diminished 

 as circumstances may indicate. Of this class the following is an 

 enumeration of those employed before the fire. The number has 

 since been reduced: 



1. A janitor, who resides in the building, on the grounds, gives 

 information to visitors, acts as messenger, and has a general care of 

 the property at all times. 2. A curator of the museum, who keeps 

 the specimens in a proper condition for exhibition, performs the work 

 of a taxidermist in setting up specimens of birds, mammals, and 

 other animals. 3. A machinist, who assists in preparing experi- 

 ments for the illustration of lectures or for original research, who 

 has charge of the apparatus, the gas and water pipes, the furnaces, 

 and the repairs of the metal parts of the building. 4. A carpen- 

 ter, to make cases, trays, packing boxes, furniture, and to attend to 

 the repairs constantly required for the building. It has been found 

 from experience that the salaries of the last two employes are much 

 less than the annual cost of repairs of carpentry and metal work by 

 the employment of outside parties. 5. Night watchmen. Previous 

 to the fire but one of these was employed, but it was found that 

 the service was too much for the health of an ordinary individual, 

 and consequently it has been necessary to employ another, the whole 



