APPENDIX B LIX 



Physics Branch 



The work of this branch has been practically in abeyance during 

 the past year, partly owing to the absence from the office of Mr. J. 

 Patterson, M.A., who has been engaged with the Department of 

 Invention and Research of the British Admiralty, and partly from 

 the fact that owing to increased duties with the Forecast Branch, 

 the Director has been unable to give time to atmospheric research 

 work. Mr. Patterson will shortly be relieved from Admiralty work 

 and steps are being taken to augment the Forecast stafif, which through 

 unexpected events has been temporarily crippled. 



Seismological Observations 



The seismographs at Toronto and Victoria have been kept in 

 successful operation throughout the year and have yielded some very 

 interesting seismograms. No change has been made in the adjust- 

 ments of the instruments, the booms being kept at a period of 18 

 seconds. 



Record was made of 134 quakes, which is 44% more than usual. 

 Of these, 102 were less than 1mm. amplitude, 20 of a moderate char- 

 acter and 12 were large. The largest occurred on: 



April 21st, with epicentre in the San Jacinto Valley, Cal. 



The quake of August the 15th was followed by a tidal wave which 

 swept the Malay Archipelago and the Islands of the Pacific. A tidal 

 wave also followed the quake of October 11th, causing a large loss 

 of life and property over the greater part of the Island of Porto Rico. 

 During the Vancouver quake of December 6th, the powerful light on 

 the Estevan lighthouse was temporarily put out of commission by 

 the mercury being shaken out of the lens table so that the lens could 

 not revolve until new mercury was supplied. 



We continue to forward abstracts of all our observations to vari- 

 ous seismological centres throughout the world, and copies of the 

 principal disturbances to the chief Seismological Observatory of the 

 British Association at Shide, Isle of Wight. We also publish the records 

 in several journals, and on request furnish the Associated Press with 



