'302 Communications to the Board of Trade [June, 



established, the formulae have been obtained ; but numerical values are 

 wanted, which can only be derived from a large number of observations 

 systematically made and discussed. At present these numerical results 

 have only been obtained from, and are only applicable to, the ships of the 

 Royal Navy. Without some systematic direction, the mercantile marine 

 can neither derive the full benefit of, or contribute its due share to, the 

 advance of the science. 



" That the subject is one coming properly within the cognizance of the 

 Board of Trade may be inferred from the Legislature having already in the 

 Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, sect. 301, art. (2), provided that 'every 

 sea-going steamship employed to carry passengers shall have her com- 

 passes properly adjusted from time to time, such adjustment to be made 

 to the satisfaction of the Shipwright Surveyor, and according to such 

 regulations as may be issued by the Board of Trade.' The Shipwright 

 Surveyor is then (sect. 309) to make a ' declaration ' that the f compasses 

 are such and in such condition as required by the Act,' and on such ' de- 

 claration ' the ' certificate ' of the Board of Trade is issued. 



" It does not appear how these enactments are construed or carried 

 into effect. It is not, however, understood that the Shipright Surveyor is 

 expected or is necessarily competent to do more than see that the ship is 

 furnished with proper compasses, but the goodness of the compass has 

 nothing to do with the deviation ; the best compasses are affected by the 

 deviation precisely in the same way and to the same extent as the worst*. 

 It is not understood that he exercises any judgment or control as to the 

 position of the compass, the amount of deviation, or the mode of adjust- 

 ment, or any of the various points which are involved in the compass 

 being ' properly adjusted.' 



*' As regards the important subject of ' deviation,' all that has been done 

 by the Board of Trade consists, it is believed, in the publication of the 

 ' Circular on Deviation ' compiled by Admiral FitzRoy, the publication of 

 the Reports of the Liverpool Compass Committee, and the publication of 

 ' Practical Information for Masters and Mates,' by Mr. Towson. 



"As regards the particular points to which the attention of the Board 

 of Trade may be invited, they may be considered under the following 

 heads: 



" (1) The correction of the compass in particular ships. 



" (2) The advancement of the science of deviation of the compass. 



" (3) The education of Masters and Mates. 



" 1 . As before observed, it is now recognized that every iron ship must 

 have its compasses ' adjusted.' Hitherto two totally different modes of 



* This is subject to the qualification that, from the diminution of directive force in 

 ships having large deviations, compasses of superior power and delicacy are required ; 

 and if the compasses arc corrected by magnets, a particular arrangement of needles is 

 requisite. 



