CXIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



A' III. — From The Nova Scotio.n Institute of Science, through 

 R. \V. Ells, LL.D. F.R.S.C. 



The Nova Scotiaa Institute of Science, through its delegate, begs 

 to present the following report of its proceedings during its forty-sixth 

 annual session. 



The following officers were elected i'or the year 1907-S : — 



President — Professor Ebenezer MacKay, Ph.D., ex-offido F.lî.^I.S. 



1st Vice-President — Prof. J. Edmund Woodman, D.Sc. 



2nd Vice-President — Watson L. Bishop. 



Treasurer — Maynard Bowman, B.A. 



Corresponding Seeretaiy — A. H. MacKa)'', LL.D., F.R.S.C. 



Recording Secretary — Hariy Piers. 



Librarian — Harry Piers. 



Other Members of Conncii — Alexander McKay; Proif. Frederic H. 

 Sf.xton, B.Sc; Henry S. Poole, D.Sc, A.R.S.M., F.R.S.C; H. W. 

 Johnston, C. E. ; Prof. A. Stanley ]\IacKenzie, Ph.D. ; Philip A. Free- 

 man; and F. W. W. Doane, C.E. 



The growth of the Society's library has continued in a most satis- 

 factory manner. During the year 1907, 1781 books and pamphlets were 

 added to the shelves, including transactions of learned societies from all 

 parts of the world. The total number of books and pamphlets received 

 during the year by the Provincial Science Library, with which the lii- 

 Siitute's library is incorporated, was 2510. The library is free to any 

 person in the province of Nova Scotia and many books are sent to readers 

 by post. It is to be greatly regretted that there is not a postal regula- 

 tion whereby books from a duly accredited public library might be for- 

 warded to readers at a reduced rate, if not free. The present postal 

 ifete on books, is a heavy tax upon those who are bent upon self-improve- 

 ment. I: is a matter that has a distinct bearing upon the education of 

 the people of the country, and is worthy of careful consideration. 



The Proceedings and Transactions, vol. XI, pt. 3, are in the hands 

 of the binder; and vol. XI, pt. 4 and vol. XII, pt.l, are both about through 

 the press, and the three parts Mill be distributed together, thus bringing 

 the publication up to date. The delay has been caused by the many 

 official calls upon the time of :he editor. 



In regard to the distribution of publications, the Institute desires to 

 again draw the attention of o:her learned societies in the Dominion to 

 the desirability of having established in Canada an exchange system for 

 publications which may take the place of that of the Smithsonian 

 Bureau of Interna:ional Exchanges at Washington, which bureau has 

 ceased acting as a medium for ihe forwarding of book packages to foreign 

 countries through its franking privileges. 



