REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 31 



INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 



The Smithsonian system, so long conducted with benefit to libraries 

 and individuals in this country and abroad, has received new impetus 

 and extension during the past year. I have already referred to an 

 elaborate history of the system, and of the efforts made to promote in- 

 terchange of the literary and scientific productions of different countries, 

 published by the Institution during the year, and it is only necessary 

 here to present the usual statistics of the service. For a full account 

 of the details of operations I refer to Mr. Boehmer's report in the ap- 

 pendix. 



The total number of establishments outside of the United States with 

 which correspondence and exchange have been conducted amounts to 

 3,726, an increase of about 800 over the list of 1881. The number of 

 packages received from Europe for distribution in the United States 

 during the past year amounted to 7,187; the number of packages from 

 the United States received for transmission abroad has amounted to 

 19,292; making an aggregate of 26,479 packages. 



The parcels received from Europe for distribution in America ara 

 generally forwarded to their respective destinations in smaller bundles, 

 or in paper wrappers. The parcels received for transmission to foreign 

 countries are carefully packed in boxes. Of these there were shipped 

 during the past year 422, occupying a bulk of 2,950 cubic feet, and 

 weighing 105,500 pounds. 



As heretofore, the Institution is greatly indebted to the lines of ocean 

 steamers between the United States and other countries of the world; 

 and grateful acknowledgment is due particularly to the agents of the 

 following companies for the continuation of their important favors in 

 the free transmission of Smithsonian packages: Anchor Steamship Com- 

 pany, Atlas Steamship Company, Compagnie G6n6rale Transatlantique, 

 Cunard Steamship Company, Hamburg American Packet Company, 

 Inman Steamship Company, Merchants' Line of Steamers, Netherlands 

 American Steam Navigation Company, New York and Brazil Steamship 

 Company, New York and Mexico Steamship Company, North German 

 Lloyd Steamship Company, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, Pacific 

 Steam Navigation Company, Panama Eailroad Company, Steamship 

 Lines for Brazil, Texas, Florida, and Nassau, N. P., White Cross Line 

 of Antwerp. 



The railroad companies connecting Washington and Baltimore and 

 New York have also continued their favor of special rates of charges for 

 freight. These are the Pennsylvania Eailroad, the Baltimore and Oliio 

 Railroad, and the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. 



Acknowledgments are also due to the foreign ministers and consuls 

 of the various Governments for their assistance in taking charge of the 

 packages intended for the countries which they respectively represent 

 and transmitting them with care to their destination. 



