APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



REPORT ON THE OPERATIONS OF EXCHANGES. 

 By George H. Boehmer. 



The iucrease in the number of "foreign correspondents" of the Insti- 

 tution since the publication of the last printed list, corrected to Jan- 

 uary, 1878, together with nnraerous changes in organizations, has ren- 

 dered necessary the preparation of a new edition of the pamphlet list 

 Dionght down to the end of the past year. This has involved the dis- 

 tribution of a circular of formal inquiries to each of our correspondents, 

 and considerable labor in the compilation of the information obtained 

 from the replies. The new " List of foreign correspondents," corrected 

 to January, 1882, has been carefully transcribed, and is now in the hands 

 of the printer. The original replies received have been arranged and 

 l)ound in volumes, so as to be readily accessible for reference at any time. 



In addition to this list, card catalogues have been prepared, showing 

 at a glance, besides the name of each institution, the date of its estab- 

 lishment, and the total number of volumes in its library, how many ot 

 these are Smithsonian publications, and designating the number of vol- 

 umes of the various series, and in this catalogue it is intended to enter 

 the Smithsonian publications to be sent successively to the establish- 

 ment. 



Another card catalogue has been commenced, in which it is intended 

 to show : 



1. The date of receipt of packages for any society, designating the 

 name of the sender and the contents of the parcels, if possible, and for 

 this purpose it is earnestly requested that all packages to be forwarded 

 through the Smithsonian Institution should have the name of the 

 sender and the contents ])lainly marked on the wrapper. 



2. The date of transuiittal, giving the number of the respective in- 

 voice and of the box containing the parcel ; and 



3. The date of acknowledgment by tlie consignee. 



This will necessarily increase the labor of the working force, but it 

 is hoped will promote the efl&ciency of the system also, and facilitate 

 by this series of checks the tracing of any miscarried parcel. 



