58 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



regarding the more important meteorological phenomena, such as 

 the temperature of the air, the direction and strength of the winds, 

 the character of the sky, rainfall, snow, fog, frost, dew, storms, etc. 



Our first records of air temperatures taken at the lake were 

 made in November and December, 1898, by Mr. S. S. Chadwick. 

 These records, few in number, were of the readings from an ordi- 

 nary thermometer, hung about 6 feet above the surface of the 

 lake on the north side of a house-boat on the east side of Long 

 Point. Following these are a few records for January, February 

 and March, 1899, also made by Mr. Chadwick. 



On July 5, 1899, the recording of temperatures was regularly 

 begun by our party and continued without serious interruption 

 until July, 1901, since which date records have been kept for vari- 

 ous periods from then to the end of 1913. 



Sky 



Along with the other weather observations kept at the lake, 

 the condition of the sky as to clearness and cloudiness was also 

 recorded. Generally, the condition of the sky was noted whenever 

 temperatures of the air and water were taken, that is, three times 

 a day. In addition to this, however, any sudden clearing off or 

 clouding up that was observed and noted, and for each day's 

 journal was entered a general summary of the day's weather. 

 The state of the sky was usually written out in considerable de- 

 tail; much more than would be desirable in a general report. In 

 looking over the records it was observed that the various days 

 could be described as clear, cloudy clearing, clouding and partly 

 clear, and partly cloudy. These terms are generally relative. Days 

 without the sign of a cloud are not very frequent. Days without 

 a patch of blue sky anywhere are not very common, but more 

 common that absolutely cloudy ones. Accordingly, by days with 

 clear sky is meant days when clouds were relatively few, and gen- 

 erally speaking such days are very bright and cheerful, although 

 absolutely clear days, so far as clouds are concerned, may be hazy 

 or very smoky, and relatively dull, while days entirely overcast 

 by thin clouds may be fairly bright. The terms "clearing" and 

 "clouding" are self-explanatory. Partly cloudy and partly clear 

 mean, of course, throughout the day the clouds and blue sky have 

 so evenly balanced that neither greatly prevailed. 



During the period from November 2, 1899, when the record 

 begins, to September 17, 1908 — with considerable gaps from time 

 to time — the state of the sky has been observed for 1,223 days ; of 



