A CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN OCEANOGRAPHY. 687 
No. 4.—A CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN 
OCEANOGRAPHY, 
By THomas WALKER Fow er, M.C.E., F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c. 
(Read Wednesday, January 12, 1898. ) 
On examining the reports of the “Challenger” Expedition some 
two years ago, it appeared to the writer that there was still room 
for a large amount of investigation in connection with Australian 
Oceanography, and more especially as to the currents, densities, 
and temperatures of our seas. The “Challenger” touched at few 
points in Australia and New Zealand (Melbourne, Sydney, Wel- 
lington, and Cape York), and these points were each visited but 
once, so that a complete examination of our waters was not made 
during that expedition. To make such an examination would, 
probably, have taken up considerably more time than that occu- 
pied by the whole “Challenger” Expedition in the voyage round 
the world. The scientists engaged in preparing the “Challenger” 
reports had, of course, access to observations other than those 
taken on board that ship, but there appeared to be room for much 
further work. ‘The writer has endeavoured to advance the work 
a little, more especially with the view of ascertaining the varia- 
tions in temperature and density of our waters. 
Necessarily, the method adopted in obtaining information was 
very different to that followed on the “Challenger.” Being only 
able to devote spare time to the work, the writer was unable to 
visit in person the different localities from which it was desirable 
to obtain samples. He, therefore, applied to the captains or 
officers of various intercolonial steamships proceeding at regular 
intervals along the Australian coasts for assistance, which they 
kindly granted by obtaining samples of the waters passed through 
by them and noting the temperature of the sea at the time each 
sample was obtained. The samples were obtained as near to the 
vessel’s bows as possible and placed in well-cleaned bottles which - 
were tightly corked and forwarded to the writer for examination 
at the Melbourne University. 
After careful consideration the writer decided to determine the 
densities by means of a hydrometer provided with movable 
weights. This was the method adopted by Mr. Buchanan on the 
“Challenger.” Previous to arriving at this decision, the advis- 
ability of using other methods, such as Sprengel tubes, was 
thought of, but laid aside as impracticable, considering the 
