report on the operations of exchanges. 57 



1. — Foreign Exchange. 



The " ForeigQ Exchange " consists iu the collecting, registering, and 

 sending, in regular transmissions to agents appointed either by the various 

 gov^ernments or paid by tbe Smithsonian Institution, of its own publica- 

 tions, those of the various government departments, scientific establish- 

 ments and individuals of this country, while the " Domestic Exchange" 

 represents donations made by corresponding establishments and indi» 

 viduals abroad in return ior contributions from this country. 



The Smithsonian Institution, in this system, ofltering to correspond- 

 ents a safe and gratuitous channel of iutercomnumication, has to in- 

 sist upon the strict adherence to certain rules adopted principally in 

 view of the free admission, into all parts of the world, of boxes and 

 packages bearing its official stamp. 



These conditions being well known to the " Home Correspondents," 

 the following circular is in course of preparation, and will be distributed 

 to all correspondents abroad on occasion of the next transmission of the 

 annual report, which will take place iu the earlier part of the coming 

 year. 



Rules adopted relative to scientific and literarij exchanges. 



1. Transmissions through the Smithsonian Institution from foreign 

 countries to be confined exclusively to books, pamphlets, charts, and 

 other printed matter sent as donations or exchanges, and not to include 

 those procured by purchase. The Institution and its agents will not 

 receive for any address api)aratus and instruments, philosophical, med- 

 ical, etc., including microscopes, whether purchased or presented, nor 

 specimens of natural history, except where especial permission from 

 the Institution has been obtained. 



2'. A list of the addresses and a statement of contents of each sending 

 to be mailed to the Smithsonian Institution at or before the time of 

 transmission. 



3. Packages to be legibly addressed and to be indorsed with the name 

 of the sender and their contents. 



4. Packages to be enveloped in stout paper, and securely pasted or 

 tied with strong twine — never sealed with wax. 



5. No package to a single address to exceed one-half of one cubic 

 foot in bulk. 



6. To have no inclosures of letters. 



7. To be delivered to the Smithsonian Institution or its agents free 

 of expense. 



8. To contain a blank acknowledgment, to be signed and returned 

 by the party addressed. 



9. Should returns be desired, the fact is to be explicitly statetl on or 

 in the jjackage. 



10. Unless these conditions are complied with the parcels cannot be 

 forwarded bv the Institution. 



