Report of the Kew Committee. 81 



error, or which from other causes did not record with sufficient 

 accuracy, was as follows : 



Thermometers, clinical 51 



,, ordinary meteorological 16 



Various 221 



7 Standard Thermometers have also been calibrated, and supplied 

 to 2 societies and 2 individuals during the year. 



There are at present in the Observatory undergoing verification, 

 22 Barometers, 482 Thermometers, 2 Hydrometers, and 4 Sextants. 



Sextant Verification. The number of sextants submitted for ex- 

 amination continues to increase, having amounted during the past year 

 to 157. 



VI. RATING OF WATCHES. 



639 entries of watches for rating were made as contrasted with 510 

 during the corresponding period of last year. They were sent for 

 testing in the following classes : 



For class A, 569 ; class B, 51 ; and class C, 19. 



Of these 218 failed to gain any certificate ; 8 passed in C, 46 in B, 

 367 in A, and 28 of the latter obtained the highest possible form of 

 certificate, the class A especially good. 



In Appendix III will be found statements giving the results of 

 trial of the 30 watches which obtained the highest numbers of marks 

 during the year, the premier position being attained with 89'0 marks 

 by a keyless, single-roller, going-barrel, cent re- seconds watch, sub- 

 mitted by W. Holland, Rockferry, Birkenhead. 



This total exceeds that of last year, and it is also extremely satis- 

 factory to note that a continued increase has taken place in the 

 proportion of watches gaining more than 80 marks, the number this 

 year being 53. 



No difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the three safes 

 in which the watches are placed during rating at the three tempera- 

 tures of 40, 65, and 90 respectively, all the year round. 



Special attention continues to be given, as before, to the examination 

 of pocket chronographs, in accordance with the request of the Cyclists' 

 Union; and in consequence of numerous enquiries from manufacturers, 

 timers, &c., a set of rules has been drawn up, as follows, which are 

 adhered to as far as practicable in testing chronographs. 



1. After the usual A or B tests are finished the watch is run with 

 the chronograph work in continual action for one or two periods of 

 24 hours each, and a note made of the maximum effect produced upon 

 the ordinary daily rate, by the chronograph mechanism being in 

 constant action. 



YOL. XLV. G 



