REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 03 



In the main the panie arrangements for distribnting exclianges in other countries 

 have continued during the year as have existed in the past. But one change requires 

 special notice. I refer to the death at Leipzig-Cxohhs, on February H, 1904, of Dr. 

 Carl Felix Alfred Fliigel, in his eighty-fourth year. 



Doctor Fliigel succeeded his father in 1855 as agent of the Smithsonian Institution 

 for the kingdoms and principalities which now constitute the (xerman Empire, and 

 continued in that capacity until his death, a continuous service of forty-nine years. 



Ilis long term of office gave Doctor Fliigel an exceptional opportunity to further 

 the work of the International Exchange Service throughout central Europe, of which 

 he never failed to take advantage. 



Doctor Fliigel published numerous pamphlets and critical essays on the English 

 language, and was the author of the standard work extensively known as Fliigel's 

 Dictionary of the English and German languages, which reached its fifteenth edition 

 in 1891. The Institution deeply regrets his loss. 



Mr. W. Irving Adams, chief clerk of the International Exchange Service, was in 

 Leipzig on official business at the time of the death of Doctor Fliigel and took imme- 

 diate steps to recommend the selection of his successor in order that the work of the 

 agency should suffer as httle inconvenience as possible. The long and faithful 

 service, the scholarly attainments, and wide acquaintance of Doctor Fliigel made the 

 selection of a suitable person a not inconsiderable task; but after careful inquiry ]Mr. 

 Adams selected Mr. Karl W. Hiersemann, the bookseller of Leipzig, as Doctor 

 Fliigel's successor, and on March 8, 1904, the Secretary approve<l the selection by 

 tendering Mr. Hiersemann the appointment. The centi'al location of Mr. Hierse- 

 mann's establishment and his efficient clerical staff have already shown the selection 

 to have been a fortunate one. 



The progress of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and China with 

 a view of establishing mutual exchange relations have frequently been referred to in 

 the annual reports of the Exchange Service, and I am now pleased to announce that 

 the matter has been referred by the Chinese department of foreign affairs to the 

 suiterintendent of trade for the south (Nanking viceroy ), with authority to deal with 

 it. It would therefore st;em that official exchange relations with China more nearly 

 apj>roach consununation than ever l)efore. Meanwhile only occasional pu]>lications 

 are received from China l)y mail, and Jio jirovision exists for sending exchanges from 

 the United States to China except to addresses in Shanghai. 



The indirect method of forwarding parcels to the West Indies through the Crown 

 ngents for the colonies in London has been abolished, and the services of colonial 

 officers and echicational institutions in several of the islands have been enlisted 

 instead. In the near future it is hoped that similar arrangements will be perfected 

 with otlier British colonies. 



The department of foreign affairs, Bangkok, Siam, has accepted the invitation of 

 the Institution to enter into a nmtual arrangement for an exchange of publications, 

 both governmental and scientific. 



Following is a list of correspondents abroad through which the distribution of 

 exchanges is accomplished. Those in the larger and in many of the smaller coun- 

 tries forward to the Smithsonian Institution reciprocal contributions for distribution 

 in the United States. 



Algeria (via France). 

 Angola (via Portugal). 

 Argentina: Museo Nacional, Buenos Ayres. 

 Austria: K. K. Statistische Central-Commission, Vienna. 

 Azores (via Portugal). 



Belgium: Service Beige des Echanges Internationaux, Brussels. 



Bolivia: Oficina Nacional de Inmigracion, Estadfstica y Projjaganda Geografica, I^a 

 Paz. 



