PEOCEEDINGS FOE 1894. 



XXXVII 



circular was issued to astronomers of all nations, inviting replies to the following question, viz. : " Is 

 it desirable, all interests considered, that on and after the first day of January, 1901, the astronomical 

 day should everywhere begin at mean midnight ? " The circular was sent to evevy astronomer 

 whose name appears in the general list of observatories and astronomers prepared by Mr. Lancaster, 

 of the Eoyal Observatory of Brussels, with the following result: 111 replies in all have been 

 received, a complete list of which is appended ; of these 108 are in favour and 63 are not in favour of 

 the proposed change. Many of the former are strongly and earnestly in favour of the adoption of the 

 civil day for astronomical pui-poses, while the writers of some of the latter seem to have been under 

 a misapprehension. They object to the adoption of the civil day on the ground that its division into 

 two seriesof 12 hours, designated A.M. and P.M., would be inconvenient for astronomers. It is obvious 

 that this objection has no weight, a.s the 24 hour-notation would remain associated with astronomical 

 reckonings as at present; moreovei', indications are not wanting that the astronomical practice of 

 counting the hours in a single series from 1 to 24, will gradually win its way into general favour in 

 civil life. The 24 hour-notation has already been introduced into use over wide districts in Canada, in 

 the whole of Italy, and throughout the Indian Empire, and there is a movement in Europe, in Aus- 

 tralia, as well as in the United States of America, especially among railway men, to bring this mode 

 of reckoning the hours into general use. 



In classifying the replies from astronomers according to the countries from which they have 

 been received, the votes for or against the change, stand as follows: — 



Austria, 

 Canada, 

 France, 

 Ireland, 

 Mexico, 

 Scotland, 



Germany, 

 Norway, 



In favour of the change. 



Australia, 



Colombia, 



Greece, 



Jamaica, 



Eoumania, 



Spain, 



Unfavourable to the change. 



Belgium, 

 England, 

 Italy, 



Madagascar, 

 Eussia, 

 United States. 



Holland, 

 Portugal. 



According to this classirtcation of the astronomers heard from, those of eighteen countries are in 

 favour, and those of four are against, the adoption of the recommendations of the Washington Inter- 

 national Conference of 1884 with respect to the astronomical and nautical days. If we compare the 

 shipping of the countries thus classified (and the shipping has an important relation to the Nautical 

 Almanac), we find that the first list, that is to say, the countries in favour of adopting the civil day 

 for astronomical purposes, represents ^, or 85 per cent, of the tonnage of the world's marine. 



Thus it appears that there is a preponderating weight of opinion among astronomers themselves, 

 that a change should be made in the astronomical day. The joint committee, therefore, feel war- 

 ranted in recommending that the home authorities be informed of the facts and that a respectful 

 appeal be made to have the Nautical Almanac adapted to the change pioposed to take ettect at the 

 beginning of the coming century. The joint committee are of opinion that the proper course is to 

 lay before His Excellency the Governor-General a respectful memorial asking His Excellency to 

 bring the whole matter to the attention of the Imperial Government in order that some common 

 international understanding maj' be reached, by which all nations shall assent to the change, and in 

 order that the Nautical Almanac which has to be prepared four or five years in advance may be made 

 conformable to the change. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



Sandpord Fleming, 



Chairman, 

 Joint Committee of llie Canadian Institute and 



the Astronomiccd and Physical Society of Toronto. 



