PURPOSE: To enable effective facsimile recording in facsimile communication by changing the recording length of one scanning line in accordance with the number of characters and thereby eliminating unnecessary recording time.

CONSTITUTION: The number of characters of one scanning line is detected in the receiving side by discriminating pause of each scanning line in a character discriminating circuit 2. A cutting out signal P of one scanning line corresponding to the number of characters is generated from a cutting out signal generating circuit 4 of one scanning line. Recording length of a scanning line corresponding to the number of characters is determined in the generating circuit 4, and synchronized with the cutting out signal P of one scanning line, and recording is performed for each scanning line.