A-6 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



7. On behalf of the Koyal Society of Canada I am directed respectfully 

 to point out (1) that possibly complete unanimity, unencumbered by con- 

 ditions, in a matter of this kind, is scarcely attainable ; (2) that in the 

 appended document, Xo. 4, evidence is presented which establishes that 

 seven of the nine ephemerides publishing nations may be considered 

 assenting parties to the proposed change, that the remaining two have in 

 no way expressed dissent, and that their silence after suflficient lapse of 

 time may fairly be taken as equivalent to concurrence ; (3) that what- 

 ever action Great ]>ritain may take will undoubtedly be followed by 

 similar action on the jiart of all other maritime nations. 



8. It is known that since the date of the memorial of the Eoyal Society 

 of Canada to His Excellency the Governor-General, on April 9th last, 

 additional lists of shipmasters have been received ; some of which will be 

 found in Appendices Nos. (J and 7. Advices go to show that the lists 

 are being continually increased. On September 4th. 1«96, there were 

 458 shipmasters, active and retired, who had been heard from ; of these 

 446, or 97 per cent of the whole, had given expression to their opinion, 

 in favour of the unification of time at sea. Among these, there are 412 

 master mariners in active employment on British, colonial and foreign 

 steam and sailing ships, representing 522,082 shipping t(ms of the carry- 

 ing steam ami sailing tonnage of the mercantile marine. These men are 

 thoroughly representative of the class to which they belong, and their 

 decided opinion on the subject establishes beyond all question that ship- 

 masters generally are ])ractically unanimous in favour of a reform which 

 alfects them, as navigators, intinitely more than any other class of men. 



9. Under the circumstances above briefly set forth, and more fulh' 

 explained in the documents appended, the Eoyal Society of Canada 

 respectfully appeals to societies and associations of the mother country 

 interested in science, shipping, navigation or commerce, for an expression 

 of their sympathy with the proposed unification of time-reckoning, and 

 in the strong hope that they will be pleased to take such steps as they 

 may deem advisable to influence the Home authorities in respect to its 

 adoption, so that it may come into force on the first day of the new 

 century. 



On behalf of and in the name of the Eoyal Society of Canada, 



John George Bourinot, 



Honorary Secretary. 



