REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 29 



Statistics of exchanges sent during the last seven years. 



We may also mention as an evidence of tbe bigh appreciation of the 

 character of the Smithsonian exchanges, that the packages bearing the 

 marks of the Institution are admitted free of duty and without exam- 

 ination into all foreign ports. 



The value of this system, as a means of advancing civilization, can 

 scarcely be too highly estimated. Accounts of all the results of scien- 

 titic investigations in the old and new world are through it interchanged, 

 and men in both hemispheres are rendered eflicient co-operators in the 

 great work of enlarging the bounds of knowledge, and thus one great 

 imj^ediment to human advancement, that of isolation, is, in a measure, 

 overcome. 



The system has now become so extended that it requires the constant 

 attention of several assistants and a large amount of correspondt^nce. 

 It has, however, been reduced to such general regulations as usually to 

 prevent loss or the misseuding of packages. It has happened in a few 

 cases that loss has occurred on account of shipwreck, and among these 

 we have to mention that of the four large cases shipped from Germany 

 in December last, on the Deutschland, three of which contained recent 

 publications of German learned societies, and the fourth specimens of 

 ornithology for the National Museum. The latter alone was insured. 

 In connection with this loss we have received the following exjjressioD 

 of regret from Dr. Felix Fliigel, the warm friend and for more than 

 twenty years efficient agent of the Institution : 



" It is now a disagreeaWe thoiight that I hurried the transmission of the last case as 

 much as possible, in order to -insure its being forwarded by the unfortunate vessel. I 

 feel quite sorry that I cannot any longer boast that not a single leaf intrusted to my 

 care for j'our Institution had been lost." 



During the past year 4,G61 packages, each containing several articles, 

 have been received from abroad for distribution to institutions and indi- 

 viduals in this country. 



Two hundred and eight boxes, averaging 7 cubic feet each, with 

 a total weight of 45,300 pounds, were sent abroad by the Institution 

 during the year. The total number of separate parcels contained in 

 these boxes was about 12,000. 



To facilitate the business of the exchanges, the following rules have 

 been adopted : 

 1. Every package, without exception, must be enveloped in strong 



