A-4 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



resolutions wore ])assed with substtintial unanimity, all of wiiie-h have 

 generally been received as both expedient and wise. Although not in all 

 cases formally adopted, the resolutions of the AVashington Conference are 

 being gradually accepted throughout the whole world, not simply in 

 Europe and America, but likewise in Japan, China, India, Australia and 

 South Africa. There is a question of urgency in respect to the sixth 

 resolution which demands explanation. This resolution reads as follows : 

 "VI. — That the conference expresses the hope that as soon as may 

 be practicable, the astronomical and nautical days will be arranged every- 

 where to begin at mean midnight.'' 



4. In the opinion of the Council of this societ}", strong reasons 

 invsent themselves for dealing with this resolution without delay. 

 The adoption of the principle advocated, implies the substitvition of civil 

 reckoning for astronomical and nautical time, with their practical aboli- 

 tion at sea. Nautical time is already to a large extent fiillen into disuse, 

 and the princii)al change would be with respect to astronomical time. 

 While astronomers individually have not been in perfect accord, the evi- 

 dence referred to in the appended papers goes to show that as a class 

 they are in favour of the change, provided it be made at a time-epoch 

 which would be easily remembered ; it has been ap])rehended that unless 

 so made, the change might give rise to error in astronomical calculations 

 in after yeai'S. On this theory, there is a consensus of opinion that the 

 most fitting time for the sixth resolution of the Washington Conference 

 to take effect is at the change of the centur}-. 



5. Whenever the change may be made it will exact moditications in the 

 Nautieal Almanac, that publication so indispensable to navigators. As the 

 2sautical Almanac is usuall}' ])i'epared and jiublished nearly four years in 

 advance, and as the 19th century ])asses into the 20th, in littlinnore than 

 four years from the present time, it is obvious that a tinal determination 

 is now indispensable. It will be a matter of jirofound regret if this 

 opportunity, which will not recur until a hundi'i'd j-ears from this date, 

 should be allowed to pass without definite action being taken. It would 

 be deeply to be deplored if in this progressive age a pi-inciple in scienei^ 

 which affects the iiKnehanl-marine of the world, and is fraught with ])osi- 

 tive benefit, should fail to obtain the yiermanenl recognition it justly 

 demands. 



6. The merits of the subject are set forth in sutHcient detail in the 

 accompanying papers, viz. : 



(1.) Memorial to His Excellency the ( iovernor-Cîeneral, from the 

 Eoyal Society of Canada (April 27th, 1S!)6). 



(2.) Communication to His Jvxcellency the Governor-General from 

 the Canadian Institute and the >\..stronomical and Ph^'sical Society of 

 Toronto (April 9th, 1896). 



