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Explorations.

As it has been the custom hitherto to transfer most of the natural history collections made by the vessels and field parties of the Fish Commission directly to the custody of the National Museum, where they could be safely cared for without additional expense to the Commission, it has been deemed appropriate to give in each of these annual reports a brief account of the explorations in the course of which the materials were obtained. As recording the origin and general character of the specimens made available for scientific study by the investigations of the Commission, these accounts, it was supposed, could not fail to be of interest and value to those who desired to consult the collections. During the past fiscal year, with the death of Professor Baird and the placing of the National Museum and the Fish Commission under separate management, the policy of the Commission with respect to its collections of marine animals has been modified, and they will be retained in its possession until finally up and described.