Cambridge, Dec. 27. A decided increase in the number of positions in private industry open to college graduates was noted by George F. Plimpton '14, Associate Dean of the Alumni Placement Bureau and Student Employment Office.

Through his office, 61 men from the Class of 1936 were placed, the largest number since 1930. An additional 129 men, many of them aided by the Harvard officials, have obtained positions under other auspices. In this way, 190 men or 80 per cent of the net registration of 283 Seniors are now working.

The average starting salary was also the best in five years with $1,140 being the mean.

As a further sign of returning prosperity, the report noted a decline in alumni registration of jobs and a corresponding drop in alumni placements from 106 last year to 79 this year.

The uptrend of employment is believed to be partly as result of the reorganization of the office. Plimpton stated that under the new reorganization "It is now possible to register ap- plicants not only in greater numbers but also earlier in the year, thus enabling the placement office to interview more thoroughly and become better acquainted with them and their individual problems before employers begin to seek their services. "As the placement work becomes more widely known it is expected that students will register with the office in Junior or even Sophomore year, thus enabling the staff to start knowing them . . . before they need placement."

To make the work more efficient, the office has added a new photographic service taking the man's picture free of charge