Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22

tI the ms ltutl0n mere mas MADE Washington
the scientific az Well as the political center of
the nation. Its work is done quietly but effec-
lively. Though il makes no loud clamor To at
the scientific circles of the world.
The principal officers and assistants of the
Smithsonian Institution aud National Museum
are as follows; Joseph Henry, secretary; and
director OF the Institution; Spencer +. Baird,
assistant secretary and curator of the Na'iOna
Museum; William j. Rhees. chief clerk Dan
Ieech, clerk in charge uf correspondence;
Clarence b. Young, clerk in charge of accounts;
Hermann DiebitSch. clerk in charge of ca
changes; Miss J. A Turner clerk in charge ~
library; Miss NJ l.. Griffin. clerk in charge Of
distribution of publications: q. II. GOode. aS
Sisiant curator of the National Museum: r.
NJ Endlich. in charge OF meteorological diyi
sion; Robert Ridgway. i'm charge of nrnitho
logical division: Prof. w. H. al. in charge -,
genealogical division: Edward Foreman. in
charge OF chronological division; T. W. smile
photographer: Joseph Palmer, taNidermist
To Professor Henry. Secretary of the lnSti-
tuition. great honor is due. This diStin-
gnished physicist, whose merits are recog-
nized 10y the scientists of the world the inveS-
tSatof IN the realm of electrU-ma gnetism
whose discoveries of principles i'm this depart
menu rendered possible their practical applica-
ton IN the electric telegraph. thus antedating.
suggesting and contributing To bring about the
invention which made Morse famous. has
Deen irom the start the very life of the insti-
tuition. Without his clear conception of the
true aim of the institution at the time of its
organization. and his constant and intelligent
labOTS for "a years towards that end Smith
son bequest might have been entirely divert
ed from It's proper course and have become
local and incOnSiderab BILE ia its influence. Ee-
SIDES guiding the operations of the Institution
he has made within its walls many important
discoveries in ply sizes. and has written valua-
Die treatlSeS on numerous scientific subjects
He has been engag ed for several summers in
series OF important experiments in relation To
fog signals. IL il 10 be hoped that his years
may still be many in the prosecution OF those
phllosophlc iahors which benefit the whole
civilized world.
TIL L. $ FISH COMMISSION
Within the smithsonian building are rooms
occupied by officials connected with the L =
Fish Commission. The present aim of the com
mission Is Ia stock depleted waters of the
United States with fish. to introduce the val
liable members of the finny tribe of the west
into eastern rivers. and rice rers0. but their
ultimate purpose i To publish a complete ICh-
THEOLOGY Of the [ nited States. About four
million California salmon eggs were diStrib-
uted in October To various eastern Matching
houses and in return >had have been intro
duced into western rivers. The most general
demand for food fishes is for the purpose of
stocking ponds and larger areas of water in
the south. species of European carp has
been found TO be best adapted 10 these waters
Two c0nsignmentS have been received from
Europe, and are now in good condition in the
ponds of Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. and their
progeny will. il is hoped, be ready for shipment
III year or two. Congress has appropriated
S5.0tO for adapting the ponds (Babcock Lake
&c..) near the Washington monument tn the
breeding Of this fish. and the work of putting
them in order will soon be begun. Twenty
seven states have commissioners of fisheries
Who receive. hatch, and distribute throughout
their several states the eggs of species fur
nishcd by the United States Commission.
and are also enabled. through state apprOpri-
atlonS, 10 carry on operations of their own.
Ike l. ;. commission. as far as stocking
streams is concerned confines itself princi-
pally 10 interstate waters. By proclamation
of President Grant. December9. 1875. a re ser
walton on the McCloud river. California WAS
granted il Tor the purposes 9i piscieulture.
| MATCHING FISH BIZ STEAM.
\ GnrlpSltN connected with Il,, Commits
1 sion work is Il patent apparatus for Matching
! fish by Steam. Large cylinders with wire
cioth bottoms are moved gently up and down.
! and the eggs are easily Matched in a healthful
| condition The operations OF the commission,
ably directed by Prof. Baird and his intelli-
/ most successful. as the large and increasing
number OF applications for fishes from officials
and individuals in all parts OF the United
States serves Ia testify.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
/ exhibited iii the Smithsonian building com
! Paies favorably with amy other natural history
! collection in the United States. Ii is largely
| indebted To the Smithsonian Institution for its
! rapid growth: the operations OF the latter adj
ding at small expense. great numbers of very
| rare specimens Ia its list. Beneath the main
! exhibition floor are rooms where fishes. rep
| tiles etc. are received. bottled and arranged
| in sets. The first set is generally exhibited in
| the museum. the next reserved for the use of
| students. and inferior SETS are often given
away Duplicate sets are also sometimes used
| by the Institution in its system of exchanges.
| has been under the charge of the accomplished
naturalist and surgeon. DIR. H. G. Yarrow. L.
! ). A, consists in placing i'm condition, for pur-
| poses OF study and consultation, the entire re
serve collection of reptiles. Each specimen is
carefully examined and compared with the
| original description. and is then verified a to
| nomenclature, and a set Of each species Is Sc
| lected according TO lis geographical distribu-
! tiOn in order that variation may be shown il
any exists. A selection of Il typical sets of
specimens embracing over 100 species. has
| been made for distribution TO various scen-
! tifc institutions: and one of these has been
sent to the Army Medical Museum, and the
I specimens prepared as skeletons by the anato-
mist. This will afford comparative anato
mists fine opportunity for the astrological
| study OF the reptilia. There are several able
gentlemen doing scientific work connected
| with the museum, without pecuniary remun-
| Grafton, through pure love of science. Among
them may be mentioned Prof. ID. $ Jortlali
| who is now engaged in important work on Ger
! tain species of fishes.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ErHxoLoGY.
The comparatively new department of eth
| nolo2y is one Of the most Interesting i'm the
! museum, and, in specimens of this continent
| snrpasses all other collections in the world.
| The North American exhibit is scientifically
arranged: man. his physical condition. etc
being first eNempliied and then culture in
| Guiding specimens of food. habitation. furni-
| ture. clothing. implements of war, adornments
| and. lastly tools of different crafts Efforts are
| being made, as well as limited space will
| allow 10 arrange the vast accumulation of
| chronological material i'm some artistic as well
| as scientific order. One case of PoyneSian
| specimens Is in this respect especially notable
The wooden pillows slightly resembling andi-
| rOns, on which the Fiji Islander rested the
| back OF his neck and sweetly repoSed, without
fear of mussing his hair and extensive head
dress, while not laying claim to beauty. fully
deserve the room assigned them by reason Of
| the practical hint they give to ladies of the
| present day who wish TO preserve for future
| occasions an elaborate arrangement of hair.
| comparatively recent additions TO the depart
| ment are great numbers of Esquimaux nipple
| ments. including three flint Scrapers. (Which.
| with similar one in the British museum, con-
| Stitute the entire stock of the world S museums
| IN this lme:) extraordinary relics from an
Gent graves on the island of Santa Barbara.
on the coast Of California: a cart load Of bows.
| arrows, mOccasns, etc, Through the War de-
| paltment.) as the result of battles with the
Indians; and many valuable specimens. in
Guiding complete Siamese exhibit. from the
International Exhibition.
MORE ROOM NEEDED.
The great need of this, as Of all the other
| departments OF the museum, is more room. Ii
| is impossible at present to make any satisfac-
tory display. Of the specimens already un-
! packed, and numbers of boxes are stored
| away unopened. The whole museum was