44 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



F., that of the surface water being 81.68 F. It is interesting 

 to compare this with the temperature obtained during the 

 past winter by the Coast Survey steamer Bibb, at about the 

 same depth, in the deep water between Cuba and Yucatan, in 

 the latter case the temperature amounting to about 39.50 F. 

 Bull. Acad, St. Petersburg, 1871, 346. 



SOUNDINGS BETWEEN CUBA AND TUCATAN. 



The greatest depth between the west end of Cuba and the 

 coast of Yucatan found by the Coast Survey Steamer Bibb is 

 1164 fathoms, as reported to Professor Peirce by Captain 

 Robert Piatt, commanding the surveying vessel. The lowest 

 temperature observed is 39.5 F. at the bottom ; surface, 81 ; 

 strongest current, two knots ; direction, north. Dr. Stinrpson 

 reports the bottom from Cape San Antonio to Yucatan very 

 barren of animal life. A few rare shells were found. Prof. 

 Hilgard. 



SELF-REGISTERING EARTHQUAKE INDICATOR. 



Erkmann has laid before the Natural History Society of 

 Prussian Rhineland and Westphalia a plan of self-registering 

 apparatus for recording earthquakes, which, although some- 

 what complicated, is said to be not without its merits. The 

 principal objects of this apparatus are, first, to record the ex- 

 act hour and minute in which an earthquake has taken place 

 at any given point ; second, to determine the number and 

 duration of the oscillations of the pendulum, and the relative 

 force of the earthquake; third, from the difference of time at 

 different stations, to determine the velocity of the propaga- 

 tion of the wave ; fourth, to ascertain the duration of the 

 earthquake, as also its beginning and ending, and whether 

 acting by shocks in waves or radii ; fifth, to indicate the 

 shocks that without its agency would be inappreciable, and 

 thus determine the absolute frequency of this phenomenon. 

 3 (7,1871,1150. 



STORM-SIGNALS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



The government of New South Wales, following the lead 

 of Europe and the United States, has introduced the system 

 of telegraphing the anticipations of the weather, and has es- 

 tablished certain stations on the coast for indicating the na- 



