REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 85 



by authors, which list was submitted to thein for verification, criticisms, and 

 additions. At the same time each author was requested to supply his separates 

 to the Institution especially for the purposes of the Catalogue. 



This method of keeping in direct communication with the authors of scientific 

 papers is very desirable for many reasons, as it not only renders it possible to 

 publish a complete Catalogue, but also aids materially in the proper and satis- 

 factory classification of the work done, which from the point of view of the 

 users of the Catalogue is of as great importance as it is to have the Catalogue 

 complete. 



During the year there were 28,629 references to American scientific literature 

 completed for the central bureau, as follows : 



Literature of — 



1901 384 



1902 ■ 511 



1903 862 



1904 5, 272 



1905 9, 022 



1906 12,578 



Total 28, 629 



Thirteen volumes of the Catalogue were received and delivered to the sub- 

 scribers in this country, as follows : 



Fourth annual issue : Chemistry, meteorology, general biology, botany, zoology, 

 human anatomy, physical anthropology, and physiology, completing the issue. 



Fifth annual issue : Mathematics, astronomy, geology, geography, and paleon- 

 tology. 



The practice has gradually been gaining ground in some of the regional 

 bureaus of including references to technical and industrial matters, which 

 while of great general interest do not come strictly within the definition of the 

 scope of the work, which was to refer only to original published contributions 

 to the physical and natural sciences. This matter has had careful consideration 

 here, and it was deemed not only necessary but wise to adhere strictly to the plan 

 agreed upon, since it was felt that a rigid following of the plan was essential 

 where so many different nations were concerned, and for the further reason 

 that an index can readily become too cumbersome for easy reference. Ulti- 

 mately it may be possible to embrace in this Catalogue all records of progres- 

 sive human interest, but it would seem at present the wisest policy to limit the 

 work strictly to the original purpose. 



The regional bureau in the United States was so organized in the beginning 

 that it could at any time be expanded to embrace any subject found advisable 

 to include in the work, but the bureau is at the present time worked to the 

 iimit of its capacity with the funds now at its disposal. 



Several of the regional bureaus, including those of Germany, France, and 

 Poland, are printing in periodical form the matter indexed by them. It was for 

 a time hoped that this could be done in this country, and for several months, 

 beginning with January 1, 1907, all scientific matter was currently collected, 

 indexed, classified, and prepared as printer's proof ready for publication by the 

 Institution, either monthly or quarterly, as a much-needed current classified 

 index to American scientific literature. This method of publication would 

 promptly furnish references to all of the scientific literature of the country 

 practically as soon as published and probably a year in advance of the perma- 

 nent assembled volumes published by the central bureau. The two methods of 



