To automatically manage the input quantity of mail per pigeonhole in each of mail sorting shelves.

Two units 2A and 2B of camera are arranged on each of the mail sorting shelves 1, the obtained image of the sorting shelf 1 is processed by a personal computer 6 to detect the positions of the pigeonholed mail and the positions are collated with the sorting shelf 1 to specify it. Then the input quantities of the pigeonholes are sequentially counted up per sorting shelf. Thus the total input quantity of mail per sorting shelf can be automatically managed, and the labor saving and the operation at low cost are achieved.