ing and one about two in the afternoon, although the second
board was sometimes omitted. It was not until 1885 that seats
on the Boston Stock Exchange were abolished and continuous
daily sessions from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. were instituted. While
the time for opening the “Boards” was fixed, the termination
was uncertain, sessions running until the transaction of all business
 had been finished, so that in busy times the first session
ran almost up to the opening of the second.
Prior to 1885, the President of the Exchange opened each
session and, taking up each stock in which trading was permitted,
 “called” each stock in turn. Upon the call of a stock,
all members having orders in it would state their position
and endeavor to effect transactions. When all had been accomplished,
 the President would then proceed to call the next
stock, and so on through the entire list. At stated intervals, all
business would be halted until the Secretary of the Exchange,
who kept a record of them, would read over the list of completed
 transactions up to that time for verification. In the event
of any dispute, business was again suspended until the President,
 upon a vote of the members present, could decide upon
the rights of the matter.
Transactions originally were private and it was not for a decade
 after its founding that the Stock Exchange gave to the press
its quotations.
The continuity in the membership of the Exchange has been
one of the features of its history. Although within four years
of its centenary, the men who have at any time been members
therein have scarcely exceeded eight hundred and fifty, and the
sons of two of the founders are active members at present.

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