315 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



by those of Dr. Kane, is extremely small, scarcely exceeding one-lnm- 

 dredth of an inch. The maximum pressure occurs during- the day 

 at about 6^ p. m., and the minimum about 3 in the morning. These, 

 however, agree generally with those indicated in other arctic locali- 

 ties. 



At Port Foulke there is also a secondary maximum and minimum 

 occurring at 8 and 10| a. m. The annual monthly fluctuation of the 

 barometer is fully twenty times greater than the diurnal variation. In 

 spring there is a well-marked maximum pressure, and in the autumn 

 an equally well-exhibited minimum. 



It is found from all the observations that the mean atmospheric 

 pressure of the mercurial column at the temperature of 32° is 29.83, 

 which accords well with the observations of Kane and McClintock, 

 and is considerably above the minimum pressure found in about 12 

 degrees lower latitude. The fluctuation was 1.8 inch — the highest, 

 30.74; the lowest, 28.93. 



The eS'ect of the direction of the wind on the barometer is that of 

 a depression of .07 of an inch during the northeast, and an elevation 

 of .04 during the southwest, and a similar elevation during the calms. 

 The oscillations of the barometer during three storms are illustrated 

 graphically, and an attempt is made to determine the elastic force of 

 vapor, but the observations recorded were insufficient; the amount was 

 very small, not exceeding .02 of an inch. 



The direction of the wind was invariably recorded with reference 

 to the true meridian, and its force estimated by an arbitrary scale 

 between zero and ten. The general result was, that the quantity 

 of the stream of air which passed over the place of observation in 

 the course of a year was nearly 60,000 miles. 



The resultant direction during the year is largely from the northeast. 

 The relative frequency of the wind is given, the northeast being 47 

 per cent, of the whole, the southwest 17, and the calms 27 per cent. 

 The average velocity of the wind was 19 miles per hour. 



During the eleven months of the observations 25 storms were re- 

 (Corded, 19 from the northeast and 6 from the southwest. 



Another paper presented for publication, also in the "Contribu- 

 tions," is an account of geological observations in China, Japan, 

 and Mongolia, by Raphael Pumpelly, of New York. This paper was 

 read before the National Academy of Sciences, and recommended by 

 that association to the Smithsonian Institution for publication. In the 

 summer of 1863 the author passed from Shanghai to Hunan and the 

 boundary between Hupeh and Sz'chuen, and in the autumn and 



