This report should be viewed as a beginning. It explores from one perspective the operation of the federal rules governing discovery as revealed in more than 7, 000 docketed requests appearing in more than 3, 000 terminated cases in six United States district courts. (A survey of practitioners in the six districts suggests that the docketed requests cover the great bulk of discovery activity.) The report is a continuation of the Center's District Court Studies Project, the first report of which (Case Management and Court Management in United States District Courts) appeared several months ago.