BEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY. 73 



subject to the jurisdiction of the United States do not come within the designa- 

 tion " international," they are not accepted for transmission. 



Packages prepared in accordance wih the rules enumerated below will be 

 received by the Smithsonian Institution from persons or institutions of learning 

 in tjie United States and forwarded to their destinations abroad through its 

 own agents or through the various exchange bureaus in other countries. The 

 Smithsonian agents and many of these bureaus will likewise receive from corre- 

 spondents in their countries such publications for addresses in the United States 

 and territory subject to its jurisdiction as may be delivered to them under rules 

 similar to those prescribed herein, and will forward them to Washington, after 

 which the Institution will undertake their distribution. 



On the receipt of a consdgnment from a domestic source it is assigned a 

 " record number," which number is placed on each package contained therein. 

 After the packages have been recorded they are packed in boxes with packages 

 from other senders intended for the same countries, and are forwarded by fast 

 freight to the bureaus or agencies abroad which have undertaken to distribute 

 exchanges in those countries. To Great Britain and Germany shipments are 

 made weekly ; to all other countries at intervals not exceeding one month. 



Consignments from abroad for correspondents in the United States and its 

 outlying possessions are distributed by mail xmder frank. 



The Institution assumes no responsibility in the transmission of packages 

 intrusted to its care, but at all times uses its best endeavors to forward exchanges 

 to their destinations as promptly as possible. 



The rules governing the Smithsonian International Exchange Service are as 

 follows : 



1. Consignments from correspondents in the United States containing pack- 

 ages for transmission abroad should be addressed " Smithsonian Institution, 

 International Exchanges, Wfishington, D. C." 



2. In forwarding a consignment the sender should mail a letter to the Insti- 

 tution, stating by what route it is being shipped, and the number of boxes or 

 parcels which it comprises. A list giving the name and address of each con- 

 signee should also be furnished. 



3. Packages should be legibly addressed, using, when practicable, the lan- 

 guage of the country to which they are to be forwarded. In order to avoid 

 any possible dispute as to ownership, names of individuals should be omitted 

 from packages intended for societies and other establishments. 



4. Packages should be securely wrapped in stout paper and, when necessary, 

 tied with strong twine. Cardboard should be used in some instances to protect 

 plates from crumpling. 



5. Letters are not permitted in exchange packages. 



6. If donors desire acknowledgments, packages may contain receipt forms to 

 be signed and returned by the establishment or individual addressed. Should 

 publications be desired in exchange, a request to that effect may be printed on 

 the receipt form or on the package. 



7. Exchanges intended for transmission abroad must be delivered to the 

 Smithsonian Institution with all charges to Washington prepaid. 



8. The work carried on by the International Exchange Service is not in any 

 sense of a commercial nature, but is restricted to the transmission of publica- 

 tions sent as exchanges or donations. Books ordered through the trade are 

 therefore necessarily excluded. 



9. Specimens are not accepted for distribution, except when permission has 

 been obtained from the Institution. 



