90 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



The monthly observations of the declination of the mag- 

 netic needle, begun last year, have been continued. The 

 results obtained the latter part of the year have not been 

 very satisfactory, probably due to local attraction caused 

 by the line of steam pipe to the drill hall. By changing 

 the true meridian to another location it is expected to 

 remedy this. 



No new equipment has been added during the year, but a 

 three years' supply of charts for the Draper instruments has 

 recently been purchased. 



At the opening of the college, in September, Mr. C. L. 

 Rice, the observer, retired from the division, and was suc- 

 ceeded by the assistant observer, Mr. H. L. Bodfish. 



