LIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



the N.W. before the storm is over. Along the south shore, it is only 

 during ebb tide that there is a weaJc set to the S.E. Any strong set 

 to the S.E. or S. is a sign of bad weather. The fishermen regard tlùs 

 as an unfailing indication^ and at once run for shelter. The main 

 feature is the fact of the current setting " into the weather " as they 

 express it; and it is difficult to give a satisfactory explanation for this. 

 The actual direction of the current is necessarily modified by local con- 

 ditions and guided by the trend of the shore ; but the greater scope and 

 freedom the current has, the more directly it appears to set towards 

 the coming wind. And further, it will set in either direction in accord 

 with the expected wind. If this behaviour is due to difference of 

 barometer, it is not easy to understand why the water should be the 

 first to feel a change, before the wind itself begins to blow. 



Tidal Observations. — In the tidal branch of the Survey, the seven 

 principal tidal stations in Eastern Camada and Labrador have been con- 

 tinued in operation throughout the year without any serious interrup- 

 tion. Additional observations of the turn of the current in Northum- 

 berlanJd Strait were also secured at Cape Traverse; and further tidal 

 observations in that strait. 



On the Pacific coast, the tidal observations have been continued 

 at Sand Heads, Victoria, Bamfield in Barkley Sound, and Port Simpson. 

 The extension of the observations there is gradually indicating the most 

 rational subdivision of those waters into regions referable to the 

 various tidal stations. All new results obtained from the observations 

 are embodied in the tide tables. 



Further reduction of tidal record from the principal stations, to 

 improve the accuracy of the tide tables, is being made from year to 

 year. For this, the height of the tide hour by hour throughout the 

 3'ear is required, as well as a careful preparation of the record in other 

 ways. The tidal information for the Pacific coast meets with even 

 more appreciation than the Atlantic tide tables. 



The appropriation for this Survey was increased last year to 

 $22,500 to cover the cost of the maintenance of the new steamer, as 

 well as the maintenance of the tidal stations and salaries of observers. 



