20 



EEPOET OP THE SECRETARY. 



As compared witli the receipts at quiuqucnnial periods for tlie past 

 15 years the steady increase is Avell shown in the following table : 



In 1871 and 187G the exchanges of Government publications were 

 not separately registered ; the aggregate weight for the year 1876 has 

 been approximately estimated. ISTotwithstanding the extraordinary 

 stimulus given to the foreign exchanges in 1870, by reason of the Cen- 

 tennial Exhibition held that year, the years immediately succeeding 

 showed no falling off in the total amount of material presented, but on 

 the contrary a continual enlargement of the work. 



Assistance hy the Government. — In view of the great public and national 

 services rendered by the exchange system, in the distribution of Gov- 

 ernment publications, and in the large accessions of valuable works 

 annually made through its instrumentality to the Congressional Library, 

 an ai)propriation has for some years past been granted by Congress in 

 aid of this enterprise. And without this support the operations of the 

 exchange service would be very seriously restricted. The usual appro 

 priation of $10,000 was granted to the Institution by the last Congress. 

 The total expenses of conducting the international exchanges, for the 

 last few years, are shown in the following table : 



The column for 1885, comprising only the first six mouths of the year 

 in the transition from the former civil year in use by the Institution 

 to the present fiscal year, one-half only of the Congressional appropria- 

 tion is credited to that year. 



