FEBRUARY 4, 1904] 
NATURE 
daily corrects some 40,000 private and public clocks, was 
efficiently maintained throughout the year with an average | 
error of only 0-15 second. 
Rapriant Point OF THE 1903 LEONID SHOWER.—During a 
watch extending from 13h. to 17h. on November 14, 1903, 
two observers at the Ladd Observatory, Providence, Rhode 
Island, counted 44 meteors, of which 20 were Leonids. 
Eighteen of the latter were plotted on a chart, and gave a | 
radiant point situated at R.A.=1oh. 1m. (150°-25), 
dec.=+21° 48!. Under similar conditions in 1901 
(November 14, 12h. 35m.-17h. 30m.) 91 Leonids were 
charted. This difference, ‘not being due to unfavourable 
meteorological conditions, indicates a diminution in the 
intensity of the shower for the epoch observed (Popular 
Astronomy, January). 
Comparison-STaR PuoroGRaPHs FOR Mrnor PLanets, &c. 
—-In No. 1, vol. ii., of the Publications of the Astrophysical 
Observatory, Konigstuhl-Heidelberg, Prof. Max Wolf 
publishes a catalogue of the photographs taken by Mr. 
Dugan during the period 1891-1896. 
The catalogue contains plates of the regions which were 
photographed for the purpose of obtaining comparison stars | 
for minor planets, comets and variable stars, and for each 
plate it gives the date, the objective used, the region photo- 
graphed, the designation of the guiding star, and the length 
of the exposure given. 
NAUTICAL EDUCATION IN JAPAN. 
A COPY of the prospectus of the Nautical College at 
Tokio has been received from the director of the 
college, together with some particulars as to the position 
of the mercantile marine in Japan. So much attention is 
being directed to that country at the present time that the 
following facts are of interest in showing the provision 
made for the scientific training of officers and men. Before 
entering into the details of nautical education in Japan, a 
glance at a statement of the increase of tonnage and number 
of seamen up to the end of 1902 is instructive. 
In the year 1897 the total tonnage of the vessels in Japan 
did not exceed 400,000 tons, including both steamers and 
sailing ships; but with the expansion of national industry 
the number and tonnage of the vessels rapidly increased, 
and by the end of 1902 the tonnage amounted to 934,961 
tons, out of which 605,122 tons relate to steamers and 
329,839 tons to sailing ships. 
At present, of the skilled officers—mates and engineers 
—of certified ability handling these ships, 1901 are Japanese 
and 331 are foreigners. As such is the case, the necessity 
of training good seamen is urgently felt, and the Japanese 
Government is paying much attention to nautical education. 
In Japan the only organised establishment for training 
higher seamen is the Nautical College at Tokio. It is 
attached to the Department of Communications, and the 
institution was first founded in 1875 by the Mitsubishi 
Company, but it was transferred to the Japanese Mail Ship 
Company. In 1885 the school was transferred to and re- 
organised by the Government, and has grown since up to 
the condition of the present Nautical College. 
The college educates youths destined to become officers 
of the mercantile marine, that is, it instructs them in theory 
and practice of matters pertaining to the higher seaman’s 
profession. The course of study is divided into two depart- 
ments, namely, the department of navigation and that of 
engineering. 
The cadets of both departments are enlisted in the navy 
during their college life and even after their graduation, 
and as they are to be appointed as naval officers they have 
to observe the general laws of the navy. 
The classes and curriculum of the navigation depart- 
ment are as follows :— 
Seamanship (theoretical). Law. 
a | Seamanship (practical) Chemistry. 
& Physics. Commercial geography. 
oO Mathematics. Foreign language. 
= Modern Japanese and Military drill. 
S) Chinese languages. 
No. 1788, VOL. 69] 
331 
Navigation. Seamanship (theoretical). 
ie | leawe Seamanship (practical). 
 |Commercial geography. — Physics. 
Qos Chemistry. Mathematics. 
a | Foreign Janguage. {Modern Japanese and 
Military drill. \ Chinese languages. 
‘Navigation. General principles or 
a Law. steam engine. 
a Nautical surveying. Physics. 
© Seamanship (theoretical). Foreign language. 
i Seamanship (practical), Mathematics. 
+ Marine meteorology. Nautical hygiene. 
\ Shipbuilding. Military drill. 
Navigation. Seamanship (theoretical). 
Nautical surveying. Shipbuilding. 
£ Practical instructions in General principles of 
= scamanship. steam engine. 
S | Physics. Law. 
=| Mathematics. Practical surgery 
Economics. Military drill. 
\Marine meteorology. 
, Navigation. Law. 
; Marine meteorology. |. ; : P 
g Shipbuilding. J Seamanship (theoretical). 
OG { Economics. } ae : 
= Foreign language. ( Seamanship (practical). 
a General principles of steam Military drill. 
engine. 
ESteeal\ Apprenticeship in far-sea- 
Class. SS going vessels. 
In this department, navigation, theoretical and practical 
seamanship, nautical surveying, marine meteorology, law 
and shipbuilding are regarded as principal studies and the 
others as auxiliaries. 
On entering, the cadets are placed in the sixth class, and 
are promoted to a higher class every half year; they are 
instructed .in the college class rooms until they advance to 
the first class, when they are taken to the gunnery school 
at Yokosuka to be instructed in gunnery for about six 
months. Then they are to serve their terms of apprentice- 
ship on board several vessels for two and a half years, 
thus taking five and a half years to complete their 
education. 
In the department of engineering, the classes and curri- 
culum are as follows :— 
Steam boiler. 
Steam engine. 
A Drawing. Shop practice. 
= Mechanics. Physics. 
os Chemistry. Mathematics. 
eos [Rowen language. {Modern Japanese and 
Military drill. Chinese languages. 
Steam engine. Steam boiler. 
w [Dswing Shop practice. 
= Mechanics. Physics. 
O  ) Chemistry. Mathematics. 
cos [Foreien language. {Modern Japanese and 
Military drill. (| Chinese languages. 
a Electricity. Drawing. 
z Shop practice. Mechanics. 
© + Mathematics. Foreign language. 
oS Military drill. Steam boiler. 
s> \Steam engine. 
ist fApprenticeship in engineering practice and in the 
Class. \ management of steam engine. 
In the engineering department, steam engine, steam 
boiler, electricity, drawing and shop practice are regarded 
as principal studies and the others as auxiliaries. 
On entering the department each and every cadet is first 
placed in the fifth class, and he can rise to a higher class 
at the end of every six months. He is instructed in the 
class rooms, as is the case with the cadet of the navigation 
department. _ When he advances to the first class he is 
placed in some factory or yard to receive practical training 
for two years, and is then taken on board several vessels 
to serve his term of apprenticeship in engineering for a 
year, thus taking five years to finish his course. 
