XXXVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



fully to urge the necessity which exists for giving immediate effect to 

 this great public project." (On motion of Dr. Fletcher, seconded by 

 Sir James Grant.) 



Tidal Currents and HTDROGRAniic Survey. 



Dr. Johnson made the following report on this subject : — 



A committee was appointed at the Halifax meeting in 1897, to wait 

 on the Government and urge not only the restoration and increase of 

 the grant for the survey of the tidal currents, but also the establishment 

 of a hydrographie survey department for the Dominion which would be 

 responsible for the tidal survey and also for all other hydrographie work 

 needed on our coasts. 



An interview was asked for and a day w!as appointed, but unfor- 

 tunately the letter making the appointment was wrongly addressed, and 

 did not reach its destination until too late. No further appointment was 

 found possible during that session of Parliament. 



In the year's interval the necessity for the action which the society 

 has been recommending has been exemplified in a very remarkable way. 



Stated briefly, the case which the society presented was this : — 



1. The loss of shipping and of life in Canadian waters is very great, 

 and is, by comparison with the losses of other nations, extraordinary. 

 This is shown by the wreck lists published by the Government, and 

 more especially by the rates of insurance. 



2. The memorial of the society dwelt particularly on the great 

 disadvantage to Canadian trade and naviglation caused by the very high 

 rates of insurance, and pointed out at the same time that as Canada did 

 not take the same care as other nations in safeguarding navigation, 

 greater losses, and therefore these rates, higher than elsewhere, might 

 be expected. 



3. The society advised that Canada should adopt the same measures 

 as other nations in providing for the safety of navigation; and in sup- 

 port of its views submitted the opinions of hydrographers, and a petition 

 of nearly 400 (four hundred) masters and officers of the mercantile 

 marine. 



As if to emphasize the representations of the society, the insurance 

 companies have lately as is well known, raised the rates for Canadian 

 ports to a still higher level, so that their disadvantage compared with 

 United States ports is increased. 



Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that there was a 

 general interest exhibited in the recent interview with the Government. 



