WEATHER BUREAU. 277 



charting of reports from vessel weather stations, and the vessel- 

 reportinfif service on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts and the 

 Great Lakes. 



At the close of the year there were 197 regular observing and 3 

 I'epair stations in operation. Of the 197 stations, 167 take two ob- 

 servations a day, 22 take one observation in the morning, and 8 take 

 one evening observation daily. These observations are telegraphed 

 to Washington and over circuits to other stations, for use in making 

 the daily weather and commercial maps and in preparing the fore- 

 casts and frost warnings issued to the public. 



SPECIAL METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS. 



In addition to the 197 regular observing stations there are 75 spe- 

 cial meteorological stations, with paid observers in charge. Fifty- 

 two of these are maintained as adjuncts to the work of the forecaster 

 in making special frost predictions for the fruit and trucking interests 

 of Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, North Carolina, Cal- 

 ifornia, and Florida, and precipitation predictions for the vineyard 

 interests of California, Eight stations are in operation in the cran- 

 berry bogs of Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, these inter- 

 ests being looked after by the officials in charge of the stations at Chi- 

 cago, Boston, and Atlantic City, respectively. Six si:)ecial stations in 

 Alaska telegraph evening observations daily to aid in the general 

 forecast work of the service; these reports are of special value in 

 making the weekly weather forecasts. One additional station in 

 Alaska is used as a distributing center in connection with ocean 

 meteorological work, while the reports from eight special stations in 

 the West Indies, rendered from July 1 to November 15, are of great 

 value to the forecaster in connection with the prediction of tropical 

 storms during the hurricane season. 



Of the 158,636 observations due from the 272 stations during the 

 year, only one was missed, and that through an accident to the ob- 

 server. Seven were taken from 15 to 30 minutes late, eight from 30 

 minutes to 1 hour late, and fourteen from 1 to 2 hours late. In most 

 instances these delays were unavoidable. No better evidence than thiu 

 could be advanced in illustration of the excellent discipline of the 

 observers and of the spirit of promptitude and devotion to duty that 

 animates the entire service. 



In addition to the paid meteorological stations, there are 33 co- 

 operative stations that render reports in connection with the special 

 interests of their respective sections ; of these, 2 are special meteoro- 

 logical stations, 22 are special fruit district stations, 1 is a special 

 cranberry-marsh station, and 8 are AVest Indian stations. 



No regular Weather Bureau stations of the first order were opened 

 during the year. Four sj^ecial meteorological and 22 fruit stations 

 were established. This special fruit-district station service is being 

 rapidly developed in connection with special investigations carried 

 on under the direction of the officials at Chicago, Raleigh, Portland 

 (Oreg.), San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Grand Junction, Jackson- 

 ville, and Columbus (Ohio). 



In the mountain orchard districts of North Carolina study is 

 being made of the thermal belts in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After 

 a careful inspection by Weather Bureau oflicials from Chicago and 

 Raleigh, accompanied by Mr. Hutt, State horticulturist of North 



