8 



Twice before I had been on the point of making an exploration 

 of the deep waters of the Pacific off Panama. Once my plans were 

 disarranged by the breaking out of war between Chili and Peru, 

 and three years ago, when the " Albatross " was on her way from 

 New York to San Francisco, I was unable to meet her at Panama, 

 although she was detained there for a time by the Fish Commis- 

 sioner, in hopes I might be able to join the ship before she left for 

 the Galapagos. I find it difficult to express my obligations to Colo- 

 nel McDonald for having given me the opportunity of accompany- 

 ing the " Albatross " on her second cruise, and of carrying on the 

 explorations of the past winter in so new and so interesting a field 

 on a vessel so admirably adapted and equipped for the purpose as 

 the " Albatross," and commanded by so experienced and enthu- 

 siastic deep-sea dredger as Lieut. Commander Tanner. To Mr. 

 Richard Rathbun, Assistant of the U. S. Fish Commission, I must 

 express my thanks for the care, interest, and patience with which 

 he attended to the endless details connected with the fitting out of 

 the " Albatross " for her voyage. 



We are unfortunately compelled for want of funds gradually to 

 restrict the work of the assistants of the Museum to the mere care 

 and maintenance of the collections, and to limit their use by spe- 

 cialists. Our inability to engage a sufficient number of assistants 

 compels us to refuse many of the constant demands made upon the 

 administration of the Museum for an opportunity of working up 

 or of examining parts of our collections, the value of which to 

 science is thus greatly diminished. It is true we have a number 

 of volunteer assistants, but we cannot expect these gentlemen, who 

 have kindly undertaken the general supervision of special depart- 

 ments, to spend their time in the drudgery necessary to meet the 

 legitimate demands which every fairly organized Museum ought 

 to be able to meet, and which are naturally made upon our collec- 

 tions and assistants. With the exception of Dr. Hagen and Mr. 

 Garman, there is no assistant upon whom I feel at liberty to call 

 for work of that kind. The annual expenditure of a comparatively 

 moderate sum would go far to remedy the unfortunate attitude we 

 are compelled to assume towards specialists. But I need not dwell 

 upon the unsatisfactory condition of the Museum finances. As I 

 have stated in former Reports, it is no longer practical for me, 

 in connection with other plans I have in view, to continue to give 

 to the Museum the support, or to devote to its interests the time 



