COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 1904 8 
Homin, Knupsen, Mitt, Winn, Gitson, Exman, OSTENFELD and KrümmEL) held meetings 
on Wednesday February 24th from 11—12 a.m. and from 1.30—4.30 p. m., and 
on February 25th from 10—11 a. m., with the object of discussing technical 
questions and especially those under Head 5, 6, 10a and 10c of the present 
Agenda. The discussions had resulted in these gentlemen being able to recommend 
to the Council the following proposals: 
I. With regard to Head 5 of the Agenda (on the proposal of Prof. KrümmeL): 
The International Council instructs the Central Laboratory to continue the 
investigations already experimentally considered, upon the compressibility of sea 
water and the absorption-coefficients of the atmospheric gases in relation to 
salinity and temperature. It empowers the Bureau if necessary (see Head VII, 
No. 25 of the Budget) to make a corresponding increase in the usual contribution 
towards the expenses of the Laboratory. 
II. With regard to Head 6 of the Agenda (on the proposal of Prof. Nansrn): 
The International Council is satisfied that the methods of current-measure- 
ment at sea are now so far developed as to make the measurement of currents 
at various depths and at the bottom, extremely desirable as part of the routine 
of the seasonal cruises at all stations where the ship can be anchored. 
It is also recommended that similar measurements of currents should be 
organized on board such lightships as are favourably situated for the observations. 
If possible this work should be commenced in the summer of the present year. 
Ill. With regard to Head 10a of the Agenda (on the proposal of Prof. Krimmet): 
The International Council welcomes as an important advance, the hydro- 
graphie sections which appeared for the first time in the Bulletin for August 
1903, and recommends the Bureau to construct such graphical representations 
regularly and to publish them in the Bulletin. 
IV. With regard to Head 10 ¢ of the Agenda (on the proposal of Prof. Perrersson): 
The International Council desires to express its satisfaction with the experi- 
ments made by Mr. G. Bnper with bottom trailers to investigate the currents on 
the bottom of the North Sea, and instructs the Bureau to give all possible support 
to the undertaking. 
V. With regard to Head Il of the Agenda (on the proposal of Dr. Winn): 
In view of the interesting results obtained by the regular observations of 
