44 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



was most desired, was therefore in the open waters along the leading 

 ocean steamship lines. These exaggerations and errors could only 

 be disproved by arriving at correct information. Also, as regards 

 tide tables, when these representations were made, there were none 

 for any of the harbours of Canada, except a crude attempt for Que- 

 bec. During the enquiries made by Mr. Carpmael, some old tidal 

 records were discovered in the Archives at Halifax; and on these, 

 tide tables were based which were first published in 1891. On the 

 Pacific coast, the only guide to the tides was such approximate or 

 inaccurate information as was given with the tide tables for the 

 Pacific coast of the United States. 



The Tidal Survey at its inception had thus a clear field before 

 it, so that tide gauges could be established at truly strategic points 

 to command the various regions into which our Canadian waters 

 must be sub-divided for tidal purposes, and to correlate the currents 

 with the tide. These waters are complex, and contrast with the 

 straight and even shores on both sides of the United States. Our 

 tides also vary in range from practically nothing in the middle of the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence to one of the highest tides in the world, in the 

 Bay of Fundy. 



It would be unsuitable to make an attempt to summarize the 

 work done by the Tidal Survey on the Eastern coasts of Canada, the 

 Pacific coast and Hudson bay, during the last 22 years, in which it 

 has been carrying on its investigations and publishing reports and tide 

 tables. It will be sufficient to indicate the three leading sub-divisions 

 of the work done, and to mention the general publications in which 

 the results are given. 



Currents. — In the investigation of the currents, the general 

 method employed was to work from a vessel at anchor which furnished 

 a fixed point from which to observe the direction and velocity of the 

 current. The observations were carried on day and night, and fog 

 or rain did not interfere with their continuity. They were only inter- 

 rupted when the sea became too rough to hold at anchor. The 

 velocity of the current, from the outset, was measured with a current 

 meter which registered electrically on board. The under-current was 

 observed as well as the surface current; and temperatures and densi- 

 ties were taken as an accessory means of tracing the movement of 

 the water. These methods and appliances are desciibed in the 

 Reports of Progress. 



In the three seasons of 1894, 1895 and 1896 a general examination 

 was made of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the straits by which it com- 

 municates with the ocean. A. vessel intended for the lighthouse 

 service was used in these years; which was not suitable as it was cum- 



