122 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1928 



that if American publishers could print tlie Catalogue for $3.50 per page, in an 

 edition of 1,000. some English printer would do the work for that sum or less. 



Before any financial aid could be reasonably applied for .the " definite scheme,'' 

 which the executive committee was authorized to prepare, would have to be 

 submitted, and I think that it is time for the committee to take some action. 



A definite scheme could be prepared after taking the matter up with the 

 regional bureaus and determining the probable support each could be depended 

 on to provide in material for the Catalogue and subscribers. It would then be 

 necessary to prepare revised schedules of classification and lists of journals 

 to be indexed. From previous experience I am sure that you will agree with 

 me that the schedules should be far more simple than those previously used 

 and that the journals and papers indexed should be limited strictly to pure 

 science, else the whole undertaking would be too ponderous at the very begin- 

 ning. I feel that after a start has been made an allied though supplementary 

 index of the applied sciences would be feasible and certainly most desirable, 

 but this could not be attempted until the more simple index to pure science is 

 provided and put on a paying basis. What in your opinion would be the 

 attitude of the Royal Society and the Zoological Record? 



The plan published in the acta of the convention of 1922 included dispo.sal of 

 the stock of complete sets at a reduced price, when publication should be 

 resumed, as a means of repaying the debt to the Royal Society, and this plan 

 would still hold. 



With kindest regards, I am 



Sincerely yours, Leonard C. Gunnell. 



While it is as yet too soon to forecast what the result of this move 

 toward reorganization will be, it seems probable that the various 

 countries previously represented will again cooperate by furnishing 

 the necessary bibliographical data to the central bureau, but it is 

 doubtful if they are in a position to subscribe to the capital fund 

 necessary to start the operations of the central bureau. 



The French bureau's reply, dated June 22, 1928, seems to bear out 

 this idea, the reply stating: "If therefore the Catalogue were resumed 

 we could immediately furnish everything relating to France." The 

 French bureau, however, could promise nothing toward the support 

 of the central bureau, but has requested the director of public instruc- 

 tion to canvass the French universities for subscribers. 



If during the coming year a definite scheme can be agreed upon by 

 the countries formerly cooperating in the work, it appears likely that 

 the comparatively small sum needed to begin i^ublication could be 

 raised in the United States. It would appear both fitting and 

 proper to have aid extended from this country to reestablish a great 

 and useful enterprise originally founded on the idea and suggestion 

 of an American pioneer in science, Joseph Henry, first secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Leonard C. Gunnell, 



• Assistant in Charge. 



Dr. Ch^vrles G. Abbot, 



Secretary, SinitJisonian Institution. 



