Our field offices, numbering 55, are geographically located in accordance with the amount of work in a particular area. Each division in the field is headed by a special agent in charge, assisted by an assistant special agent in charge. They are responsible for the proper conduct of the work within their divisions. They are answerable to Mr. Hoover. They are also supervised, of course, in the particular area of the work concerned by the division at headquarters. Depending on---- Mr. DULLES. May I ask is that 55 in the United States? Mr. BELMONT. United States and its possessions. Mr. DULLES. And Puerto Rico? Mr. BELMONT. Yes. Mr. DULLES. It doesn't include your legal---- Mr. BELMONT. Legal attachés abroad? Mr. DULLES. Yes. Mr. BELMONT. No; they are under the direct supervision of our headquarters. Depending on the size of the division in the field, we will have a supervisory staff in order to properly supervise the work of the agents in the field. Mr. STERN. Can you describe the establishment of a typical case, indicating the meaning of the terms office of origin and auxiliary office? Mr. BELMONT. A case is opened by the FBI upon the receipt of information indicating a matter within the jurisdiction of the FBI. We restrict our investigations to those matters which are within our jurisdiction. The office of origin is the office where the major part of the work is to be done. Thus it should be the controlling office of the investigation. Normally, if an individual is under investigation, it will be the office where he resides. There will be in many cases investigation to be conducted by other offices. Those offices that have investigations in that case are considered auxiliary offices, and will cover the investigation sent to it, sent to them, by the office of origin or by another auxiliary office if a lead develops within that area that requires attention elsewhere. I may say that the office of origin can be changed and is changed if during the investigation it becomes apparent that the focus of the investigation has shifted to another area. It is logical, therefore, that that office which bears the brunt of the investigation should be in possession of all the material pertinent to the investigation and should be charged with the supervision and running of the investigation and the direction of it. In the event the office of origin is changed at any given time, the previous office of origin will forward to the new office of origin all material pertaining to the case so that it will have a complete file and the necessary knowledge to run the case. Mr. STERN. Can you tell us a bit more about how information is maintained and how it flows through the system from headquarters to office of origin, to the auxiliary office or in the other directions that are possible?