GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSEUM 
By W. H. Collins , Acting Director 
The National Museum of Canada is able to report satisfactory progress 
during the year 1928 in the collecting of material for scientific study and 
exhibition, in systematic scientific investigation, in the public display of 
anthropological, zoological, botanical, geological, and mineralogical speci- 
mens, and in educational activities. 
Collections were made of much material of merit from the aboriginal 
races of the country and efforts are being made to procure as much 
material as may now be available in a form unaffected, or as little affected 
as possible, by the culture of the Whites. Studies of Indian races were 
conducted at first hand by scientists who lived among them for a part of 
the year and made records of their lore, their customs, their religion, their 
music, their handicrafts, and their whole culture. Excavations were also 
made of ancient village sites to obtain greater knowledge of the distribution 
and the culture of the races of prehistoric times. 
Mammals and birds were collected at a number of points, particularly 
in southern British Columbia and on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, 
and observations were recorded regarding them in their local habitat. 
One member of the staff accompanied the expedition of the Northwest 
Territories and Yukon Branch of the Department of the Interior to the 
Canadian Arctic islands and made zoological observations and collections. 
Collections of plants were made at a number of points in Hudson bay, 
much additional information was gained regarding the distribution of 
plants, and the herbarium was enriched by many botanical specimens 
from localities heretofore unrepresented. 
Additions were made to the systematic mineralogical and geological 
collections, and good collections of vertebrate and invertebrate fossil 
material were made. These have been, or are being, made the subject of 
careful study and the results will be published. 
A supply of new exhibition cases has been procured and such progress 
will be made towards their utilization as careful selection, labelling, and 
proper display will permit. During the year 1929 there will be placed on 
exhibition, therefore, a lot of very choice material from the anthropological 
collections. 
The National Museum of Canada is an outgrowth of the Geological 
Survey and in certain activities no sharp line of division is yet drawn 
between the two. The Museum is indebted to members of the staff of the 
Geological Survey for most enthusiastic co-operation in the exhibition of 
geological, palaeontological, and mineralogical material. Other govern- 
ment departments have shown a much appreciated interest of the exhibition 
work of the Museum and it is expected that the next annual report will 
record very tangible results of this interest. 
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