PHYSICS OF THE GLOBE. 65 



all, 120 stations report to the Central Office. Telegraphic 

 reports are received from stations in the United States and 

 the Dominion sufficient to allow the office to issue its own 

 daily weather predictions and storm warnings independent 

 of those received from the office at Washington. The work 

 of the office for the year has been highly complimented by 

 the Toronto Board of Marine Exchange. 



Detailed tables of observations and averages, etc., accom- 

 pany the report, as in former years, together with short re- 

 ports from the observatories at Kingston, Quebec, Montreal, 

 and St. John. 



Early in 1S77 the large volume containing the meteoro- 

 logical and physical observations of the Polaris Arctic Expe- 

 dition was published by the National Academy of Sciences. 

 As only a very small edition of this volume was printed, we 

 shall give a somewhat extended resume of its contents as 

 soon as Dr. Bessels has published the results of his revision of 

 the work. Anion g the interesting items that Dr. Bessels an- 

 nounced was the demonstration of the fact that in Smith 

 Sound there meet two opposing tidal waves from the north 

 and south, confirming the theory that Greenland is an island. 

 The same fact is now independently deduced by Rev. Samuel 

 Haughton from the tide observations of the British Polar 

 Expedition, and a deserved tribute should be paid to Dr. 

 Bessels's sagacity. 



Some progress has been made in the formation of state 

 meteorological associations in the United States. The first 

 annual report of the Iowa weather stations shows that about 

 ninety observers report to Professor Hinrichs, who in various 

 ways finds opportunity to foster an increasing intelligent in- 

 terest in the subject of meteorology. The rainfall map for 

 Iowa is published monthly, and is a most praiseworthy con- 

 tribution. An enthusiastic beginning has been made by 

 Professor Nipher, of St. Louis, who will publish monthly 

 reports of "The Missouri "Weather Service." 



The first steps have been taken towards the organization 

 of a state system of reports in Illinois. The statistics gener- 

 ally published annually by the regents of the University for 

 New York, and by the Secretary of State for Ohio, together 

 with the data given in the annual reports of various Boards 

 of Public Works, Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, 



