RECORDS OF MEETINGS OF 1908 479 



into being, and the waves joined the two with bars. In 1891 New Bogoslof 

 was still steaming. In 1906 Metcalf Cone was reported midway between 

 Old and New Bogoslof. In July, 1907, Metcalf Cone had broken in two, 

 and the breaches between the islands were again connected with continuous 

 land. On September 1, 1907, McCulloch Peak exploded and was wholly 

 destroyed. 



No such extraordinary story of growth and alteration of an island in the 

 sea has ever been told in the records of science before, and the changes of the 

 later stages are unique in the annals of vulcanology. 



In connection with this paper, sketches were shown illustrating the 

 remarkable differences in outline of this island at different intervals from 

 1826 to 1907. It was also illustrated with lantern slides. Remarks in 

 connection with the subject made by Professor C. H. Hitchcock and Dr. 

 Henry S. Washington. 



Professor Huntington said in abstract: In discussions of the possibility 

 of some relationship between sunspots and earthquakes or volcanoes, atten- 

 tion has usually been concentrated upon sunspot maxima. Jensen, an 

 Australian, however, has plotted the most important earthquakes and 

 volcanic eruptions for the last century and more, and on comparing his data 

 with the sunspot curve for the same period finds that there seems to be a 

 gi'ouping of the terrestrial phenomena at or near the time of sunspot minima. 

 In order to test the validity of his conclusions, another set of data as to 

 earthquakes and volcanoes, prepared by Mr. R. W. Sayles for quite a differ- 

 ent purpose, has been taken and similarly compared with the sunspot curve. 

 In this case, as in the other, the grouping of terrestrial phenomena at times 

 of sunspot minima is evident. In order to get rid of the personal equation, 

 which enters so largely into such studies, and in order to get rid of temporary 

 or local irregularities, all the data of both Sayles and Jensen have been 

 averaged together. By repeated averaging of results as to the frequency 

 and intensity of both earthquakes and volcanoes, the whole body of facts 

 given by the two investigators, for a period of 117 years in one case and 147 

 in the other, has been combined into a single curve representing the progress 

 of volcanic and seismic phenomena during the average sunspot cycle for the 

 same period. On comparing this curve with the average sunspot curve, it 

 appears that the minimum of the one coincides exactly with the maxima 

 of the other and vice versa, and that times of increase in the one set of phe- 

 nomena are times of decrease in the other. The coincidence cannot possibly 

 be accidental, for the repeated process of averaging would prevent the two 

 curves from agreeing unless there were a genuine cause of agreement. The 

 remarkable nature of the coincidence suggests that there is some common 

 cause at work, producing a maximum occurrence of earthquakes and 

 volcanoes upon the earth and a minimum occurrence of spots on the sun. 



