APPENDIX 3. 



REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the International Exchange Service during the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1920: 



The congressional appropriation for the support of the service 

 during the year was $45,000, an increase of $10,000 over the amount 

 of the regular appropriation for 1919. This increase was made 

 necessary in order to meet the cost of transportation at the prevail- 

 ing high ocean freight rates on shipments of accumulated publica- 

 tions for certain countries. The usual allotment of $200 for printing 

 and binding was allowed by Congress. The repaj'ments from de- 

 partmental and other establishments aggregated $4,992.90, making 

 the total available resources for carrying on the system of exchanges 

 during the fiscal year 1920 $50,192.96. 



During the year 1920 the total number of packages handled was 

 369,372 — an increase over the number for the preceding year of 

 98,512. These packages weighed a total of 496,378 pounds — a gain 

 of 204,460 pounds. These increases in the number and weight of 

 packages handled are accounted for by the fact that during the year 

 shipments were resumed to several countries with which exchange 

 relations were suspended during the war, concerning which a state- 

 ment will be made later in this report. It is gratifying to state that 

 the work of the office during the past year exceeded by 27,705 pack- 

 ages the number handled during the fiscal year 1914, just prior to the 

 outbreak of the World War. 



The number and weight of the packages of different classes are 

 indicated in the following table: 



