REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 41 



Numerous instances were reported where the Weather Bureau 

 observers on the lookout at these reporting stations sighted vessels 

 in distress and sent out the word that brought the revenue cutters 

 and the tugs of wrecking companies to the rescue. 



NEW APPARATUS. 



Rain and snow gauges having special shield devices were installed 

 for comparative observations at stations in Colorado, Yellowstone 

 Park, and Utah during the year. In all cases the records of snowfall 

 obtained from these gauges were from 20 to 25 per cent greater than 

 those obtained by the ordinary snow gauge. Further structural 

 modifications will be made in these gauges in order to overcome diffi- 

 culties that are still encountered in the effort to obtain a catch that 

 will represent the true amount of precipitation. 



Special instrumental equipments were installed at stations in Min- 

 nesota, Idaho, Utah, and California, in connection with experiments 

 being carried on in cooperation with the Forest Service. 



Instruments for obtaining records of humidity and temperature 

 have been supplied to the Bureau of Mines for use in a study of the 

 causes and prevention of mine disasters. 



The study of conditions favorable for the formation of frost in 

 the fruit districts of the country has called for a large distribution 

 and installation of instruments at the special observing stations. 



Weather Bureau kiosks constructed for the display of weather 

 instruments at conspicuous places in large cities were furnished to 

 10 additional stations during the year. 



The development of special apparatus for the measurement of 

 solar radiation was extended during the year, and a number of sta- 

 tions in the West and Southwest were equipped with pyrheliometers 

 for the purpose of making observations. 



Special instrumental devices for the study of wind movement at 

 high velocities have been developed during the year. By means of 

 the tests proposed through their use it will be possible to determine 

 the higlier wind velocities more accurately than now secured by 

 means of the cup anemometer, it being recognized that the velocities 

 as at present obtained are increasingly erroneous with the increase 

 of the rate above 50 to GO miles an hour. 



SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION. 



There has been established at Mount Weather a school of instruc- 

 tion at which newly appointed assistant observers will be given a 

 thorough training in the meteorological and other duties to which 

 they will later be assigned. The observation station will be con- 

 ducted exactly as a regular station of the bureau. The course of 

 instruction includes a training in observational methods and the 



