56 



REPORT OB^ THE SECHETARY. 



transmitted was less by 14 per cent. This inconsistency in figures was due to a pre- 

 ponderance of unusually large packages forwarded abroad during the year ended 

 June 30, 1903, but the greater number of parcels during the last year shows an 

 increased interest in the service and has resulted in adding several thousand names 

 to the list of correspondents. 



It is gratifying to note that of the weight of exchanges handled during the year 

 ended June 30, 1904, 75 per cent was from domestic sources and 25 per cent from 

 abroad, while during the previous year the proportions were 73.8 per cent and 26.2 

 per cent, respectively. 



In July, 1897, an exchange list of foreign institutions was published which con- 

 tained 9,414 addresses. The necessity for a revised list arising, a new edition was 

 published in September, 1903, containing 12,720 addresses. This list, printed in 

 limited edition at the expense of the Smithsonian Institution, is intended as a work- 

 ing guide for the United States International Exchange Service and its distributing 

 agencies throughout the world, rather than for general distribution. 



Tabular statement of the work of the International Exchange Senice during the fiscal year 



1903-1904. 



a Decrease. 



The following table shows the number of packages of exchanges handled and the 

 increase in the number of correspondents each year from 1897 to 1904: 



Number of packages received 

 Weight of packages received, 



pounds 



Corrcspoiuk'iits: 



Foreign societies 



Foreign individuals 



Domestic societies 



Domestic iiulividuiils 



Puckages to domestic addresses 

 Oases shipped abroad . . . 



158,983 



481,410 



13, 257 

 24, 901 

 8,464 

 6,450 

 38, 702 

 1,987 



