REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 1916. 7 



geometry up to geophysics. Its dimensions, its mass, and its 

 physical behavior are better known than those of any other body 

 thus far observed by us. Hence nothing is more in the nature of 

 things than that the Institution should support a Department 

 of Terrestrial Magnetism and a Geophysical Laboratory; for 

 although the subjects of research in these establishments he on 

 the borderlands of the older physical sciences, they demand 

 separate treatment and elaborate equipment comparable in 

 every way with the requirements of astronomy and geology. 

 It was to meet one of the most important of such special needs 

 that the non-magnetic ship, Carnegie, was constructed in con- 

 formity with specifications chiefly noteworthy by reason of the 

 restrictions as to metals imposed by the Department of Terres- 

 trial Magnetism. This vessel has proved remarkably successful 

 and is now one of the best-known ships afloat. As a direct aid 

 to navigation she has aheady repaid her cost many times over, 

 while the data she has accumulated will doubtless increase 

 in value with the lapse of time. During the past year she has 

 added an unexpectedly large mileage to her record. Starting 

 from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, August 7, 1915, she arrived, after 

 a continuous voyage, at Lyttelton, New Zealand, November 3, 



1915. Leaving Ljrttelton December 6, 1915, she sailed around 

 the world (17,084 nautical miles) between the parallels of 50° 

 and 60° south latitude, a voyage of only 118 days, during which 

 complete observations of the magnetic elements were made on 

 every day except one. Saihng again from Lyttelton May 17, 



1916, she arrived at San Francisco September 21, 1916. 



In the long run, a research estabhshment must be known 

 largely, if not chiefly, by the pubhshed accounts of its investiga- 

 tions. For in so far as these are sound, and hence worth carrjdng 

 on, they will be in general difficult of just appreciation and of 

 imxmediate utihtarian apphcation. The discoveries and advances 

 of one generation are usually better understood and better 

 utihzed by succeeding generations. This is in accordance with 

 the principle that while progress is generally due to individuals its 

 advantages are chiefly for the race. Hence the prime importance 

 of transmitting to our successors a trustworthy record of our 

 methods, our theories, our achievements, and even of our errors 

 and failures. One of the most effective means of fulfiUing this 



