DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 295 



and it was impossible to swing ship^ until August 15, just before leav- 

 ing Bering Sea. The farthest north was 59° 33'. 



The one hundred and eightieth meridian was crossed on August 13, 

 the date August 14, 1915, being dropped. After clearing the Aleutian 

 Islands, the course followed was practically south along the one 

 hundred and sixty-fifth meridian to New Zealand. On September 6 

 a terrific gale and hurricane from the southwest was encountered. 

 It was necessary to take in all sail and run before the storm, and for 

 17 hours a speed of 9 knots was made under bare poles. The vessel 

 stood the strain well, but everything was wet on board, the hurricane 

 driving the rain into every crack and opening. Wake Island was 

 passed in the morning of September 12. After passing the first of the 

 Marshall Islands, it was deemed best to keep pretty well to the east 

 on account of prevailing easterly winds and westerly set of the cur- 

 rents. It was necessary to pass well to the westward of the Santa 

 Cruz-Solomon Islands passage, while near the equator, but favorable 

 conditions made it possible to weather the Solomon Islands, the 

 engine operating during calms. 



After passing the Solomon Islands, the Carnegie was driven to the 

 westward by the prevailing southeast winds and had to tack twice to 

 avoid the Indispensable Reefs. These reefs were passed October 12, 

 and all the islands and reefs in the Coral Sea were safely cleared. As 

 the Coral Sea was entered, the winds drew somewhat more to the 

 southward, making it necessary to near the Australian Coast off Bris- 

 bane. Good winds were blowing across the Tasman Sea, and the 

 light on South Island, New Zealand, east entrance to Foveaux Strait, 

 was made early in the morning of October 31. On account of the 

 slow trip, it was decided to pass through the strait; just before clearing 

 the east end of the strait at sunset the wind shifted to the southeast, 

 making it necessary to use the auxiliary power. Fortunately, the 

 engine was in good condition and enough coal was reserved for such 

 an emergency. Again, in trying to round Banks Peninsula to enter 

 Port Lyttelton, the wind shifted ahead. With the engine and fore- 

 and-aft sails, however, it was possible to tack to advantage against the 

 wind, thus saving a delay of a day or more in entering the harbor at 

 Lyttelton. The engine has proved its value on several occasions and 

 has run well. Only once during the trip did it fail to operate, and the 

 cause for this failure was definitely placed. 



During the cruise, various and unusual currents were noted. The 

 winds encountered were light and baffling; very rarely were the yards 

 braced square for a fair wind. The total number of miles on the 

 passage was 8,865, an average of 100 miles per day for 89 days. 



'The purpose of occasionally making magnetic observations while swinging ship is to test, from 

 time to time, the absence, for the Carneoie, of deviation-corrections large enough to be taken into 

 account. 



