PROCEEDINGS FOR 1894. V 



valuable work on the Algonquia tongue. The full page illustrations and the large maps — apart from 

 several small cuts in the text — are twenty-two in number; the valuable paper on Canals by Mr. T. C. 

 Keefer requiring elaboi'ate plans. The cost of circulating the tenth volume last year was increased 

 by the fact that it had to be forwarded by the Society itself to members of the two Houses of Parlia- 

 ment on account of it having been i-eady only afier the exceptionally early prorogation. In previous 

 vears the distribution was made while Parliament was in session, and the members consequently able 

 to transmit their own copies direct through the Post OflSce. This year an experiment has been made 

 in the publication of the tirst number of a series of historical monographs of the Royal Society, with 

 the view of meeting the necessity of reaching the public in a more convenient and readable form than 

 is oftered in the large quarto volume of ' Transactions' whose circulation and value are chiefly confined 

 to libraries and societies for purposes of reference. The literary sections have heretofore been placed 

 at a considerable disadvantage compared with the scientific sestions who prefer the large quarto book 

 on account of the facilities it offers for illustrations. In some cases where maps are necessary the 

 quarto form may be available even for monographs in the English and P>ench sections, but these 

 cases are exceptional, and a desire is generally felt to give lai'ger publicity to valuable work of the 

 section than is possible by means of the quarto volume. Authors can tell from their own experience 

 that the large quarto size is a barrier to the general sale of a book even though popular in its scope 

 and object. Valuable monographs have been refused to the Society simply on this account, and the 

 effectiveness of the literary sections consequently impaired. The scientific sections have so far not 

 only taken up the larger share of the text of the volumes, but have also required fully four-fifths of 

 the expensive and numerous illustrations that have appeared and cost upwards of $8,000 since 1882-3. 

 Under these circumstances the scientific sections may fairly be called upon to assist the litei'ary 

 sections in a matter of so much interest to them. ïhe.se monographs will be placed in the principal 

 book stores by the publishei's. It is hoped that the experiment of the past year will be such as to 

 induce the Society to continue it fiom time to time in the case of valuable monographs which are 

 likely to meet with popular favour. It is proposed that the author should receive any sum that may 

 remain over from the sales after the expenses of publication have been reimbursed to the Society. 

 The Society runs little or no risk in such a venture, which can rarely cost more than an illustrated 

 paper in a scientific section. It is suggested that this matter be left where it properly rests, in the 

 hands of the Printing Committee. They can make from year to year such arrangements as are con- 

 sonant with the pecuniary and other interests of the Society. The presence on this committee of Dr. 

 S. B. Dawson, the Queen's Printer, and a former publisher of important works, will enable the com- 

 mittee to come to a safe conclusion. 



" The following suggestions are also made with reference to the ' Transactions' : 



" That the volume be kept as near as possible to six hundred pages, and that the amount set 

 apart for maps and illustrations do not exceed five hundred dollars, unless in excejjtional cases which 

 may be considered and approved by the Printing Committee. 



" That the amount of copies of the ' Transactions' bound in cloth be limited to eight hundred instead 

 of over twelve hundred as at present, to be forwarded to the great libraries of Europe and America, 

 and to the moi'O important institutions in thos"? countries. The remaining four hundred and odd copies 

 can be inclosed in strong boards for transmission to exchanges. At present very few bound copies 

 are received from American and European societies, and it seems an unnecessary expense to circulate 

 the ' Transactions' in so expensive a form in all cases. This saving can go to the equalizing of expen- 

 diture and revenue and to the larger circulation of useful monographs. 



" As the number of papers appears increasing each session, and several are now loft unavoidably 

 over since last year, it is suggested that each section carefully select the papers to be published in 

 full, and in less important cases print abstracts. It is also necessary that all manuscripts should be 

 type-written or at least written in a clear, legible hand, and kept flat in all cases. The expense of 

 printing papers has been increased by the illegibilitj' or obscurity of the manuscript, and the con- 

 sequent difficult}' of proof-reading " 



