23 JUNE 1917, Page 17

The English Catalogue of Books for 1916. (Publishers' Circular. 75.

6d.)—A word of welcome is due to this new volume of a catalogue that is found indispensable by all who have to deal with books. Last year's books numbered 9,149—the smallest number recorded since 1908, and over three thousand fewer than the total for 1913, which is the highest recorded. Official publications, which the editor describes as " literary *protozoa," are not recorded, but they have been far more numerous during the war than ever before, so that the decline in the number of new books does not necessarily mean any national saving on paper and print.