VIII VALUES OF FOREIGN COINS AND CURRENCIES. 



that the ruble of Russia, for instance, fluctuated from 77.17 cents in 1874 to 37.4 

 cents in April, 1897, such computations are wholly misleading. All computations 

 of values, trade, wages, prices, etc., of and in the "fluctuating-currency countries" 

 should be made in the values of their currencies in each year up to and including 

 1890, and in the quarterly valuations thereafter. 



To meet typographical requirements, the quotations for the years 1876, 1877, 1879, 

 1881, 1882, and 1891-95 are omitted, these years being selected as showing the least 

 fluctuations when compared with years immediately preceding and following. 



To save unnecessary repetition, the estimates of valuations are divided into three 

 classes, viz: (A) countries with fixed currencies, (B) countries with fluctuating cur- 

 rencies, and (C) quarterly valuations of fluctuating currencies. 



