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VII

U.S. National Museum,
Washington, D.C.,
Jan. 9, 1883.


Prof. Spencer F. Baird,
Director U.S. National Museum,
Sir;

In accordance with your wish expressed in a circular of Dec. 13, 1882, I have prepared a statement concerning the work accomplished in the Department of Fishes during the year 1882.

The report is somewhat cumbersome, but is necessarily so because of the extreme usefulness of the collections to authors engaged in the study of fishes; the bibliography of papers based on the collection illustrates the extent of dependence upon this museum.

The analysis presented in the circular has been closely followed and the details elaborated as far as possible or necessary.

The report has to deal only with the regular duties of the curator and makes no mention of editorial work, which has involved a considerable outlay of time.

The divisions follow those indicated in the circular and are as given below:

1. [[underlined]] Accessions in 1882 [[/underlined]],
2. [[underlined]] Administrative work [[/underlined]],
3. [[underlined]] Work in research [[/underlined]],
4. [[underlined]] Present state of collection [[/underlined]],
5. [[underlined]] Plans and recommendations [[/underlined]], -
all of which is herewith submitted.

Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Tarleton H. Bean,
Curator, Department of Fishes.