174 REPORTS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



Government printer. At the request of the President and with the permis- 

 sion of the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, a brief sum- 

 mary of the results was presented by the Director before the meeting of the 

 National Academy of Sciences last April. 



Considerable time has been devoted to a careful consideration of the pro- 

 jected plans of the new vessel and to making preliminary computations of 

 possible magnetic effects to be expected from the amount of magnetic mate- 

 rial necessarily remaining in the machinery, etc. 



Public addresses have been made by the Director on the Pacific Ocean 

 Magnetic Survey before the Middletown Scientific Association, at Wesleyan 

 University, February lo, and at Columbia University on February ii, in the 

 course on "Navigation and nautical science" ; as also in Philadelphia, April 

 25, at the special request of the president of the American Philosophical Soci- 

 ety. For other papers presented before scientific societies, see bibliography. 



Capt. Roald Amundsen, the noted explorer, visited the office in November 

 and conferred with the Director regarding the magnetic work on his North- 

 west Passage expedition and as contemplated in his future polar work. Visits 

 have also been received from other noted men interested in magnetic science 

 who have familiarized themselves with the work of the Department. 



The compilation of past magnetic data, the index of current literature, have 

 been continued, and abstracts of publications of special interest have been 

 prepared from time to time. Publications pertaining to the work of the 

 Department have been forwarded regularly to interested parties and organi- 

 zations in all parts of the world. 



Due credit must be given Mr. J. A. Fleming, magnetician-in-charge, for 

 the efficiency secured in the administration and execution of the office and 

 experimental work. 



