EEPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45 



the number up to about 700. The list of individuals is nearly as large 

 as that of institutions. 



To facilitate the selection of recipients for particular works, of which 

 a limited number of copies only may be available for distribution, 

 classified lists of institutions are kept, as of academies of science gene- 

 rally, and of societies devoted to special subjects, as geography, ge- 

 ology, zoology, botany, ethnology, statistics, &c., and these are ar- 

 ranged from IS^o. 1 upwards, in the order of relative importance, or of 

 equable distribution among the centres of learning; thus six copies of 

 any work on hand would be assigned to the first six names on the list 

 of institutions most interested in it. 



The parcels, as received irom the different portions of North Amer- 

 ica, are placed, after being addressed, (if not so alread}^) in their ap- 

 propriate receptacles, and the list entered specifically in a record book. 

 To facilitate such entry, a detailed invoice of each transmission is re- 

 quired, and the failure to furnish it puts the institution to the great 

 trouble of making it from the books themselves. 



When the parcels have all been received, a list of the different do- 

 nors is printed, together with the titles of the various works which 

 the institution has for distribution at the time. On the da.y assigned 

 for commencing the labor of making up the packages, the binns are 

 emptied successively, the contents arranged carefully on the counters, 

 so as to bring everything for one address together, the Smithsonian 

 donations are added, and each particular piece is checked off in the 

 printed blank just referred to. This rough invoice is numbered and 

 handed to the packers, who make up the volumes into one or more 

 bundles, and mark them with the number of the invoice, by which 

 means they are easily identified and labelled. When parcels or books 

 are addressed to individuals, these are usually inclosed in the bundles 

 of the societies to which they belong, the number and addresses of 

 such sub-packages being marked on the rough invoices. A correct copy 

 is made of these lists, and forwarded by mail or otherwise to the par- 

 ties, in which is also stated the nature and time of the transmission. 

 These invoices are finally posted, to the debit of the party addressed, 

 in a large ledger, which shows what each has had, and what return 

 has been made to the Institution, The record of each package is, 

 therelbre, made four times. 



In sending the invoice of the package for each address, a circular 

 is added explaining the objects of the transmission, and the conditions 

 on which the exchange will be continued. 



The time occupied in invoicing and making up the packages varies 

 with the occasion, although a month is usually required to finish the 

 work. After the bundles are all made up, those tor each agent are 

 brought into one heap, and they are then packed into boxes, a check 

 list being kept of the numbers placed in each box. 



There are three principal agents in Europe who have charge of the 

 Smithsonian exchanges in their respective regions : Dr. Felix Fltigel, 

 resident in Leipsic, has charge of continental Europe, with the ex- 

 ception of France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, (which are supplied by 

 Hector J3ossange, of Paris,) and of Greece and Turkey. Henry 

 Stevens, of London, is agent for Great Britain and Ireland. Greece 



