202 



INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



ships' registers of observations recorded in this 

 part of the world. 



Location: At the Commonwealth Meteorological 

 Bureau, Central Office, Victoria Street, Mel- 

 bourne. 



Organization to which attached: Meteorological Bu- 

 reau, Commonwealth Department of the Interior. 



Purposes: To collect marine meteorological data 

 relating to that part of the Southern Hemisphere 

 between 80° East longitude, and 150° West 

 longitude. 



The Marine Section arranges for the enrollment, 

 instruction, and, as far as funds permit, for the 

 equipment of marine observers on Australian 

 ships. 



Log reports from ships of other countries also 

 are arranged for from time to time, but only 

 when such observers' reports are not required 

 by the Meteorological service of the country in 

 which the ships are registered. 



(Scope of activities: As far as possible : 



(a) The completion of a daily isobaric chart 

 of the area indicated under "Purposes" and 

 combining reports of ships and of land stations 

 in the area; 



(b) Calculating of monthly normals (for each 5° 

 square) of the meteorological elements included 

 in the ships' reports; and 



(c) Collection and investigation of reports of 

 tropical cyclones, and of miscellaneous phenomena 

 reported by ships. 



Equipment: A few of the ships enrolled as marine 

 observers of the Central Meteorological Bureau 

 are equipped with official mercurial barometers, 

 and with sea water thermometers. The number 

 of ships thus equipped will gradually be increased 

 as funds become available. 



In the case of most of this Bureau's observers, 

 however, the readings of the ships' barometers 

 are used, barometers being checked and index 

 error corrections supplied as required. 



For particulars regarding the equipment of 

 ships, the data of which are borrowed from the 

 British Meteorological Office, it is desired to refer 

 to the relevant section of the statement supplied 

 by the British Meteorological Office. 

 Staff: Headquarters: 1 meteorologist; 1 meteorologi- 

 cal assistant. 

 Agencies: 5 agents, the Divisional Meteorologists 

 of Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and 

 Hobart. 

 Provision for visiting investigators: As occasion arises. 



Income: By parliamentary vote as part of the appro- 

 priation for the Department. 



Provision for publication of results: Results may 

 eventually be published by the Government 

 printer if funds can be obtained for the purpose. 



Fisheries Department of the Commonwealth 

 of Australia ('37) 



History or origin: In the year 1935 the Common- 

 wealth Government definitely established a Fish- 

 eries Department under the care of the Council 

 for Scientific and Industrial Research, a govern- 

 mental body responsible for industrial branches 

 of research. 



Location: Sydney, Australia. 



Organization to which attached: Council for Scientific 

 and Industrial Research of the Commonwealth 

 Government of Australia. 



Purpose and scope of activities: Fisheries research. 

 It is planned to make a special investigation of the 

 possibilities of pelagic fisheries. 



Equipment: Besides facilities for laboratory work a 

 research vessel about 83 feet long of the purse 

 seiner type, with a diesel engine, is under con- 

 struction and will soon be commissioned. 



Staff: Scientific Adviser, W. J. Dakin, Professor of 

 Zoology, University of Sydney; Officer in charge. 

 Dr. H. Thompson. 



Marine Laboratory of the University of Sydney ('37) 



History or origin: The Laboratory was set up at 

 the instigation of Professor W. J. Dakin, Professor 

 of Zoology, the University of Sydney. The 

 money available for the initial effort was part of a 

 fund collected many years ago for the foundation 

 of a Sydney Biological Station. 



Location: At the entrance to Sydney Harbour, coast 

 of N. S. W., in closest approximation to the open 

 ocean. 



Organization to which attached: Uni^-ersity of Sydney, 

 Department of Zoology. 



Purposes: Chiefly research, marine biology, and 

 oceanography. Also instruction for senior classes. 



(Scope of activities: Investigations in plankton; 

 hydrographic conditions to a distance of about 

 five miles off-shore east of Sydney; physiological 

 studies of certain marine organisms; physical, 

 chemical oceanography. 



Equipynent: 1 small temporary laboratory, single 

 floor 36 ft. by 12 ft. but closely associated (only 

 half hour journey) with University laboratories 

 and libraries. Separate aquarium room with few 



