REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



is intended, must be written legibly on tbe cover, and the name of the 

 sender on one corner of the same. 



3. No single package must exceed half of a cubic foot in bulk. 



3. A detailed list of addresses of all the parcels sent, with their con- 

 tents, must accompany them. 



5. No letter or other communication can be allowed in the parcel, 

 excepting such as relates exclusively to the contents of the package. 



6. All packages must be delivered in Washington free of freight and 

 other expenses. 



7. Every parcel should contain a blank acknowledgment, to be signed 

 and returned, either through the agent of tbe Institution, or, what is 

 still better, through the mail, to the sender. 



Should returns be desired for what is sent, the fact should be ex- 

 plicitly stated on the list of the contents of the package. Much disap- 

 pointment is frequently expressed at the absence of any return in kind ' 

 for transmissions ; but unless these are specifically asked for, they will 

 fail in many instances to be made. It will facilitate the labors of the 

 Institution very much if the number corresponding to the several ad- 

 dresses in the Smithsonian printed catalogue be marked on the face 

 of each parcel ; and for this purpose a copy of the catalogue will be 

 forwarded to all who apply for it. 



Specimens of natural history will not be received for transmission 

 unless with a previous understanding as to their character and bulk. 



8. Unless all these conditions are complied with, the parcels will not 

 be forwarded from the Institution; and, on the failure to comply with 

 the first and second conditions, will be returned to the sender for cor- 

 rection. 



Exchange of Government documents. — In the last report a full account 

 was given of the system adopted for carrying out the law relative to 

 the exchange of the official publications of United States Government 

 for those of foreign nations. In accordance with this system, during 

 the past year 120 boxes of documents were forwarded, the following 

 being a list of the distribution: 



International exchange of Government publications in 1876. 



Sent to— Boxes. 



Germany 3 



Saxony 5 



England 5 



Spain 5 



Turkey 



Holland 



Belgium 



Portugal 



Ottawa 



Ontario 



Mexico 



Brazil 



Chili 



Japan 



Sent to— Boxes. 



Queensland 7 



Victoria 7 



South Australia 7 



New Zealand 7 



New' South Wales 7 



Tasmania 7 



Switzerland 7 



Sweden 7 



-Scotland 7 



Buenos Ayres 7 



Hayti C 



Venezuela 6 



Norway 5 



Prussia 5 



