English. The highest proportions with ability to speak English are shown by the Germans, Hebrews other than Russian, and Russian Hebrews, while the Lithuanians and North and South Italians show the least ability in this direction.

The progress in acquiring the ability to speak English is exhibited by the following table, which shows, by sex, years in the United States, and race, the per cent of foreign-born employees of nonEnglish-speaking races who were able to speak English:

TABLE 164.-Per cent of foreign-born employees who speak English, by sex, years in the United States, and race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 200 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

Of 5,209 persons for whom information was secured, 60.3 per cent are able to speak English. Of those who have been here under five years, 40.6 per cent speak English; of those who have been here

from five to nine years, 71.1 per cent do so, while 88.1 per cent of those who have been here ten years or over are able to speak English. As regards the males and females, 64.3 per cent of the former and 54.9 per cent of the latter speak the language. The lowest degree of proficiency is shown for both sexes of all races among those who have been here under five years, the proportion of the females being considerable lower than those of the males. Almost equal proportions of males and females who have been here from five to ten years speak English, the proportion in both instances being about 70 per cent. Greater efficiency is shown by all races of both sexes among those who have resided in this country ten years or over, but in this instance, the females show the greatest ability to speak English.

Greater proportions of Germans, Russian and other Hebrews, and Russians than of any other race are able to speak English, while the lowest proportions thus qualified are shown by the Lithuanians and North and South Italians. Of individual instances, the Hebrews other than Russian, and Russians display the most marked proficiency in speaking English, each of these races showing 100 per cent of the females who have been here ten years or over who can speak that language.

GENERAL EXPLANATION OF TABLES."

Persons of native birth have been divided into two general groups, and further subdivided under each of the two, as follows:

1. Native-born of native father.

Persons under this group are classified as White, Negro, Indian, Chinese, Hindu, Japanese, and Korean.

2. Native-born of foreign father.

Persons under this group are classified according to race of father in all tables where the data were secured for households, and according to country of birth of father in all tables where the data were secured for employees. Where classification is by race of father the classification used for several years by the United States Bureau of Immigration is followed.

Persons of foreign birth are classified according to race (or people). The classification of the United States Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization is followed.

In the study of households information is presented

1. By general nativity and race of the "individual" in all tables which show facts which are personal in their nature, such as English speaking, occupation, or conjugal condition.

2. By general nativity and race of "head of family" in tables concerned with family matters-for example, family income.

3. By general nativity and race of "head of household" in all tables dealing with living conditions, among which are tables showing the composition of the household and the number of persons per room and per sleeping room. The distinction which has been made throughout this study between "family" and "household" is dependent upon the use of the term "apartment."

An "apartment" is a room or rooms within which all the usual daily processes of living-namely, cooking, eating, and sleeping-are carried on by the occupants. According to this definition an apartment may be, for example, a whole house; or it may be a single room of what was originally intended as an apartment; or it may be a corner of a wareroom or the back of a storeroom partitioned off and set aside for household uses. Two or more groups of Occupants with distinctly separate money interests frequently rent a number of rooms jointly, occupying certain rooms separately but sharing one or more, usually the kitchen, or kitchen and living room. Under these conditions neither the rooms used by the one group of occupants nor those used by the other can be considered an apartment, since the room used in common must in such case be considered a room in each apartment and thus be counted twice. Where these conditions have been encountered the entire number of rooms has been considered one apartment.

The "household" includes all persons living within an apartment without regard to the relationships which exist among them. The household may consist of one or more families with or without

a In addition to the general tables relating to the general survey of the industry and to the industry in New York City, Baltimore, and Chicago, general tables (102-117) giving data for New York State are presented for comparative purposes.