Coding may be done in either one of two ways - by direct coding or 
by numerical coding. In direct coding a notch-nosition stands for a 
descriptive term. For example, in a reseurch project on deer, there may 
be need for information as to the sex. Two notch-positions may be used 
for this, one for "male* and one for "female." or one hole mizht be 
used, notched for male and un-notched for female. Similarly sorting 
may be required according to species of big game. In.this case, a series 
of notch-positions may be designated elk, moose, mule deer, etc., respec- 
tively. Numerical coding is used when the categories are numerous or 
represent large numbers. Notch-positions may be numbered consecutively 
from 1 to 10, 12, or 20, etc. This is simply a numerical form of direct 
coding. But if numbers from, say, 8&5 to 260 are used as in dressed 
weights of deer, it will be desirable to use combinations of notch-posi- 
tions. For this purpose, notch-nositions are set off in groups of 4. 
The positions in each group are numbered 1, 2, 4 and 7 consecutively. 
These numbers are used in combinations to form numbers from 1 to 10. The 
number 1 position is notched for 1, the number 2 position for 2. The 
combination of 1 and 2 is used for 3. The number 4 position alone is 4. 
Positions 4 and 1 are 5. Four and 2 positions are 6, and position 7 
alone stands for 7. Combinations are continued to 10. A series of such 
banks of positions could be used to record digits, tens, hundred, etc. 
Using this system, a dressed deer weight of 195 pounds would have the 
following positions notched: In the "hundreds”* bank the number one posi- 
tion, in the "tens" bank two and seven positions (equal to nine) and in 
the digits bank four and one positions (equal to five). Thus, with a 
combination of 12 positicns, 3 banks of 4 each, any weight rrom zero 2 
to 1,000 pounds can be recorded. Notchey for the number 195 are indi- ‘\.’ 
cated. 

