president's address — SECTION E. 129 



balance of exploration for Mr. Lindsay of to-day, under the 

 munificent auspices of that true patriot Sir Thomas Elder, 

 G.C.M.G., of South Austraha, to complete. I will not detain 

 you with further remarks upon this subject, as I understand 

 that our Section is to be favoured with an account of Mr. 

 Lindsay's work from one who is far better acquainted than 

 myself with what has been, and is being done. 



But the subject of Geography is not limited to terra firma — 

 the ocean, likewise, has an important claim on the attention 

 of true geographers. In like manner to the arterial and 

 venous systems in the human frame, the ocean possesses a 

 pulse, of great importance to the navigator, under the technical 

 title of " Tides and Currents." 



Lieut. M. F. Maury, LL.D., of the United States navy, 

 has done much to enlighten us on this subject in his 

 " Physical Geography of the Sea," and by encouraging 

 navigators to carefully note in their logs the currents they 

 detect during their voyages ; but need of more systematic 

 observations on these subjects becomes daily more pressing 

 now that increased marine traffic multiplies shipping disasters 

 on our coasts, when it is frequently endeavoured to cover the 

 responsibility by reference either to an unexpected current or 

 to an uncharted rock, though it may be the ship that was the 

 uncharted thing. What appears to be a necessary course 

 for meeting this need is to provide an universal system of tide 

 and current register on all coast and island stations through- 

 out the world ; observations made in connection with 

 meteorology to include the temperature as well as saltness of 

 the sea water, the direction and force of the currents, and 

 times of high and low water. Tidal observations have been 

 established with much care in connection with the survey of 

 India, and suggested by Professor G. H. Darwin. Since 

 the commencement of the present century tidal observations 

 have been carried out in India in order to furnish data for 

 the trigonometrical survey, but it was not until 1855 that a 

 self-registering tide-gauge was employed. Subsequently, it 

 was desired to investigate the relations between the levels of 

 land and sea on the coasts of the Gulf of Cutch, which 

 were believed by geologists to be gradually changing. The 

 example set by India in this direction, in the labours 

 prosecuted by Major A. W. Baird, R.E., F.R.S., &c., under 

 the direction of the Surveyor-General of India, M'e may hope 

 will be followed by all civilised nations ; and, with a view to 

 commending this subject to the Tidal Committee of the 

 British Association, may the Australasian Association venture 



