The determination of stellar parallaxes photographically using occulting shutters initiated by Schlesinger at Yerkes in 1903 and taken up vigorously at a number of observatories in the northern hemisphere about 1913 and in the southern hemisphere about 1925 has resulted in the determination of more than 9000 parallaxes relating to more than 5000 stars.The position at the end of 1947 compared with that at the end of 1934 (as shown in I.A.U. Transactions, Vol. 5, 149) is approximately as follows, although for want of official figures some of the data are only estimates.

A circular letter was sent out to all members of the Commission in December 1937, to which the majority have replied. While work is going on steadily in the Observatories where meridian observations are carried out, comparatively few catalogues have been published since 1935. In view of the very full report made three years ago it is only necessary to draw attention to the progress which has been made in the interval.