516 Proceedings of the British Association. [October, 
coal as a most precious, valuable, and limited deposit, of which we are the 
stewards and guardians. Mr. Bramwell then reviewed the other sources of 
power within our reach, namely, the wind, the power of our streams, and the 
power derivable from the rise and fall of the tide. 
The most important paper read before this Section was one by Mr. F. 
Ransome, on ‘Artificial Stone,” to which we shall refer more fully on a 
future occasion. 
Breech-Loading Small Arms.—Mr. Merrifield read a paper, presented by 
Mr. A. Wylie, of Birmingham, on the “ Progress of Invention in Breech- 
Loading Small Arms during the past Twenty Years,” with comments on the 
Reports of the Small-Arms’ Committee. 
Aérial Navigation.—A paper on this subje& was read by Mr. C. A. Bowd- 
ler, who wished to see experiments with aérostats attempted with a view to 
the introduction of these machines into military tactics. The author believed 
in the practicability of aérial navigation by simple mechanical means. Manual 
propulsion having been secured, the power of direction was the next deside- 
ratum, and was accomplished by rotating the balloon to any required position, 
by a rudder, consisting of a vertical disc fixed in a line with the axis of the 
propeller. By turning the plane of the disc, the current of air forced from 
the fan on the rudder caused the whole machine to rotate right or left, as in 
the case of a ship. 
Deep-Sea Soundings.—Sir Wm. Thomson, F.R.S., gave the results of some 
experiments on deep-sea sounding, the weight or load being sustained by a 
steel-wire of No. 22 gauge. The experiments had been made at a depth of 
2700 fathoms, and had been attended with perfect success. 
Lights at Sea.—Sir W. Thomson contributed a second paper on “ The 
Identification of Lights at Sea,” recommending a system by which light- 
houses could be recognised by means of signals in accordance with the Morse 
alphabet. 
Measurement of Waves.—A novel paper was contributed on this subject by 
Mr. C. W. Merrifield, F.R.S., Principal of the Royal School of Naval Archi- 
tecture, who considered it desirable to confine the measurement to the two 
points of ascertaining the aggregate height of the waves and their number 
during measured intervals of time. The machinery could consist of a float 
sliding up and down strained wires, at the head of a pier or in a standard of 
framework. A line from this float could pass over a pulley, the motion of 
which, transmitted through its shaft, would give all the required measurements. 
The measurement of the aggregate height of the waves would be effected by 
simply connecting a ratchet-wheel, pawled so as only to turn one way, with 
the float pulley. To count the waves it would be necessary to record the 
number of times the float reversed its motion, the record being effected with a 
pencil on aslip of Morse paper. 
Other papers of interest were read, but their application is too technical for 
abstraction. 
Next year the British Association will meet at Bradford, under the presi- 
dency of James Prescott Joule, L.LD., F.R.S. 
