REPORT

OF THE

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

FOR

THE YEAR 1893.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

LETTER

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF

SCIENCES,

TRANSMITTING

A report of the operations of the National Academy of Sciences during the year 1893.

JANUARY 11, 1894.-Referred to the Committee on Printing and ordered to be

printed.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,

Washington, D. C., January 10, 1894.

SIR: In conformity with the requirements of the act of incorporation, approved March 3, 1863, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the National Academy of Sciences during the past year.

REPORT

OF

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

The National Academy of Sciences was established by act of Congress in March, 1863, with power to frame its own constitution, select its own members, and provide in other respects for its continuance and successful operation.

The object of the Academy is to advance science, and especially to investigate, examine, experiment, and report on any subject of science or art whenever called upon by any department of the Government.

The Academy contains at present about one hundred members, and these have all been selected for their original researches in science. They represent within their ranks nearly every department of knowledge, and their services, in accordance with the charter of the Academy, are always at the disposal of the Government without compensation.

SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY.

During the past year the Academy has held three sessions. The first was the regular annual meeting, held in Washington, D. C., April 18 to 21, 1893; the second was a scientific session, in Albany, N. Y., November 7 to 9, 1893, and the third was a special session in Albany, November 8, 1893.

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