102 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 



Programme for the Hydrographical and Biological work in the 

 Northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the 

 Baltic and adjoining Seas. 



A. 



THE HYDROGRAPHICAL WORK. 



1. 



Tlie hydrographical researches shall have for their object: the dis- 

 tinction of the different water-strata, according to their geographical 

 distribution, their depths, their temperature, salinity, gas -contents, 

 plankton, and currents, in order to find the fundamental principles 

 not only for the determination of the external conditions of the useful 

 marine animals, but also for weather-forecasts for extended periods iu 

 the interests of agriculture. 



II. 



As the hydrographical conditions are subject to seasonal changes, and 

 as these strongly influence the distribution and life-conditions of useful 

 marine animals and the state of the weather and other general meteoro- 

 logical conditions, it is desirable that the observations should be made 

 so far as possible simultaneously in the four typical months, February, 

 May, August, and November, at definite points along the same deter- 

 mined lines. 



III. 



The observations referred to in ii. would consist of : — 



(a) Observations of temperature, humidity and pressure of the air 

 every two hours ; self-registering instruments for interpolation, and 

 Assmann's aspirator should be used. 



Opportunities should be afforded to the meteorological offices to make 

 on board the ships physical observations on the higher levels of the 

 atmosphere by means of kites. 



The other meteorological observations are to be carried out accord- 

 ing to the methods adopted by the meteorological offices of the nations 

 represented. 



The observations, meteorological as well as hydrographical, made on 

 board the special steamers at the time of the survey in the typical 

 months, are to be immediately worked out under the supervision of the 

 central bureau (see C) for publication in a bulletin, wherein the condi- 

 tions of the sea and the atmosphere are to be represented by tables and 

 synoptical charts in co-operation with the meteorological institutes of 

 the nations represented. 



