22 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1907. 
President’s order of January 24, 1906, held twenty-six meetings dur- 
ing the year and reported on one hundred and one manuscripts sub- 
mitted for publication, besides numerous blank forms for use in the 
bureaus of the Institution. 
Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, of the National Museum, has been added 
to the committee, which consists of the following members: Dr. Cyrus 
Adler, Assistant Secretary, chairman; Dr. F. W. True, of the United 
States National Museum; Mr. F. W. Hodge, of the Bureau of Ameri- 
ean Ethnology; Dr. Frank Baker, of the National Zoological Park; 
Mr. C. G. Abbot, of the Astrophysical Observatory; Mr. W. I. 
Adams, of the International Exchanges; Mr. A. Howard Clark, of 
the Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, of the 
United States National Museum. 
The printing committee has had under consideration the advan- 
tage of a uniform system of abbreviation of works cited by natural- 
ists in their publications. A preliminary list of abbreviations has 
been prepared for the criticism of the scientific staff of the Institution 
and its branches. 
Dating of publications—Among the questions considered by the 
printing committee was the dating of publications, particularly such 
papers as contain descriptions of new genera or species in natural 
history, and upon the recommendation of the committee the Institu- 
tion has adopted the rule that “ whenever fifty copies of any paper 
shall have been mailed or distributed by messenger, the paper shall 
be regarded as having been published, it being understood that the 
date of such mailing or distribution shall coincide with the date of 
record in the Smithsonian document rooms and with the date printed 
upon the publication.” 
Durable book paper.—The introduction of a very large portion of 
wood pulp and ground wood in book paper to the exclusion of cotton 
- or linen rags formerly used in its manufacture has been found greatly 
to decrease the durability of modern publications. The printing com- 
mittee, after considering this problem, concluded that paper hereafter 
used in Smithsonian publications should be composed of not less than 
50 per cent of rag stock and be free from injurious chemicals. Defi- 
nite specifications as to the composition of paper will later be formu- 
lated, in cooperation with the Executive Departments. 
THE LIBRARY. 
The total accessions during the year to the Smithsonian library 
aggregated in volumes and parts 34,382. The major part of these 
was placed in the Smithsonian deposit in the Library of Congress, 
but these accessions include the libraries of the Secretary’s office, the 
National Museum, the Astrophysical Observatory, and the National 
