MAGNETISM AT HALIFAX, AUGUST, 1904. — DIXOX. 253 



rations were taken at stations "all over the globe, but only three 

 of these were in the belt of totalit3^ The results do not seem 

 conclusive one way or the other. At Karang Sago, the Dutch 

 observers noted a slight change in declination and in horizontal 

 intent-ity, and at Sawah Loento, the party sent by the Massa- 

 chusetts Institute of Technolog}^ observed a slight decrease of 

 east declination at a time when there is normally an increase. 

 These effects did not extend fai- outside the belt of totality. On 

 the other hand, nothing particular was noted by the observers 

 at the Mauritius, a station directly on the belt. 



It is hoped that further information will be obtained on this 

 interesting question at the total eclipse next August. In this 

 eclipse the belt of totality will pass over part of Labrador and 

 so will be easily accessible. It is evident that observations out- 

 side the belt, but not far from it, in Quebec and Nova Scotia, 

 will be of great value. 



Tlie Dip and its Variations. 

 When a magnetic survey is made and the dip is measured in 

 different localities, it is found to vary in value from place to 

 place and from time to time. When the lines of equal dip are 

 plotted, we find them not nearly so irregular as those of equal 

 declination. One of these lines, that of ' no dip ', the so called 

 magnetic equator, circles the earth not far from the geographical 

 equator. Along this line the dip needle remains horizontal, and 

 at all places north of it the north pole of the needle points to- 

 wards the earth, and the south pole of the needle dips down at 

 places south of this line, the dip continually increasing towards 

 the poles. The north magnetic pole is in Boothia Felix, and in 

 1831 Ross believed that he reached it, the exact position 

 recorded for it being latitude 70° 05' 17" N. and 96" 45' 48" W. 

 longitude. At this place Ross found that the needle pointed 

 vertically downward. Little was known about the south mag- 

 netic pole till quite recently, and the results of the observations 

 of the recent Antartic expedition are awaited with interest. 



