164 REPORTS O^ INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



execution on a concerted international basis, be attempted, with the friendly 

 and effective cooperation of those interested, by a research organization pro- 

 vided with sufficient means to bear the chief brunt of the work. The present 

 report records the progress made in this undertaking during the fiscal year 

 November i, 1907, to October 31, 1908. 



MAGNETIC SURVEY OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



The magnetic survey yacht Galilee, employed since 1905 in the Pacific 

 Ocean work, at the close of the previous fiscal year was on her way from 

 Honolulu to Jaluit, of the Marshall Islands. She was off Midway Island Oc- 

 tober 5, 1907, and arrived at Jaluit October 21, the same port was visited in 

 1906. Having completed the shore and harbor work, she set sail on October 

 31 for Port Lyttleton, New Zealand. November i found the vessel becalmed 

 in the Lagoon of Jaluit and in a very dangerous position because of the many 

 reefs and the lack of any auxiliary power. For 1 1 days she lay thus, being 

 aground on a reef at one time for a period of several hours, when the oppor- 

 tune arrival of the German mail steamer offered a means of towage out to 

 sea. Course was then laid directly for New Zealand via Cook's Strait. In 

 this leg of the cruise, the lack of auxiliary power was again sorely felt, when 

 for 4 days every effort had to be made in order to keep clear of the New Heb- 

 rides Islands by reason of contrary winds. Port Lyttleton was reached late 

 in the afternoon on the day before Christmas. Lieutenant Shackleton's Ant- 

 arctic Expedition in the Nimrod was found just in the midst of final prepara- 

 tions for departure. This fact, in connection with the holiday season, delayed 

 work until the very end of the month. The New Zealand government, through 

 the premier, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph G. Ward, and the Port Lyttleton Har- 

 bor Board, extended to the Galilee party every possible courtesy and aid, 

 giving not only free wharfage but also transportation facilities on the rail- 

 ways and the service of a tug for use in swinging, and putting the facilities 

 of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory at its disposal. Dr. C. Coleridge 

 Farr, of Canterbury College, and Mr. H. F. Skey, director of the Christ- 

 church Magnetic Observatory, rendered the party every possible assistance. 



Upon completion of the instrumental comparisons at the Christchurch Ob- 

 servatory, and of the shore observations, the Galilee was swung off New 

 Brighton Beach. Departure from Port Lyttleton was made on January 17, 

 1908, and the course followed was practically along the parallel of 43° south 

 to about west longitude 108°, from which point the course was generally 

 northeast until arrival in Callao Bay, Peru, on March 10. In this passage 

 from New Zealand, violent gales were encountered between February 7 and 

 II, the vessel scudding at one time before the wind under bare poles, but 

 thanks to her capable and experienced sailing master, Capt. J. T. Hayes, she 

 safely outrode every gale, though somewhat the worse for wear. At Callao a 



