PROCEEDINGS— APPENDIX A A- 11 



the ])voposed chungc, the large majority of all heard IVom are in favour 

 of it, and that they are quite prepared to submit to a slight temporaiy 

 inconvenience in view of the benefits which would result to far wider 

 interests than those connected with their special work. Such being the 

 case, it may be assumed (hat astronomers, as a class, are not unfavour- 

 able to the proposal to change the astronomical day. 



It is more diiticult to obtain an expression of opinion from navi- 

 gators. Astronomers, for the most part, are attached to observatories, 

 and their addresses are known, but ship-captains actively engaged in 

 their profession, are at sea during much of their time, and when they 

 reach land, are, during their general brief stay on shore, pre-occupied 

 with many engagements, so that they have few opportunities of mutual 

 consultation on matters of this character. It by no means follows, 

 however, that they are indifferent to a subject which so* much concerns 

 their life and occupation. Thanks to the public spirit and scientific 

 enterprise of the gentleman already named, the publisher of Clreenwood's 

 Nautical Almanac, we are not left in doubt. 



Mr. Greenwood assumed the somewhat difficult task of obtaining an 

 expression of opinion from practical navigators. Following the ex- 

 ample of the Canadian Institute and the Astronomical and Physical 

 Society of Toronto, he instituted a special inquiry. He took means to 

 consult the various shipmasters as they arrived from sea at the larger 

 seaports of the United Kingdom in July and August last, placing before 

 them certain questions and receiving replies in writing. Mr. Green- 

 wood left each individual sea captain to state his unbiassed opinion, and 

 he believes that the replies received may be considered to fairly represent 

 the views of shipmasters generally. 



Full details of this interesting inquiry will be found in the extract 

 from Mr. Gi'eenwood's communication appended hereto. In the tables 

 attached are given the name of each shipmaster consulted, the name of 

 the vessel of which he is captain, whether steam or sailing ship, its port 

 of registration, its tonnage and other particulars. 



The following is a summary of the answers received to the question : 

 " Are you in favour of the Unification of Time as applied to the Civil, 

 JNautical and Astronomical Days, and is it desirable in the interests of 

 all concerned that such days should commence at mean midnight ? " 



Shipmasters in active service — 196 yeas, 3 nays, 2 doubtful. 



Shipmasters not in active service — 37 yeas, 4 nays, 1 doubtful. 



Thus, it appears, that of 243 representative shipmasters taken at 

 random, no less than 96 ])er cent are in favour of the unification of 

 time at .sea and only four per cent take an opposite view. Moreover, 

 it is noteworthy, that of the shipmasters in active service, obviously the 

 younger generation of sea captains, the number in favour of the prin- 

 ci]ilu of unification is still more marked ; of this class, those in favour 



