52 Report — 1860. 



On Practical Experience of the Law of Storms in each Quarter of the Globe. 

 By Captain W. Parker Snow. 



From practical experience in several parts of the globe, Captain Snow confirmed 

 the soundness of the theory of the Law of Storms brought forward by Admiral 

 FitzRov. In one place, well known to the Admiral, viz. the tempestuous seas about 

 Cape Horn, he, Capt. Snow, had cruised for two years without the smallest damage 

 to his vessel, and this owing to the attention he ever paid to those laws of nature 

 in connexion with wind movements. 



On another occasion, off the coast of Australia, he preserved his little ship, by 

 similar attention, in a terrific gale, when at the same time several other vessels were 

 wrecked. He well remembered how his chief officer derided the idea of any storm 

 theory being true, and, when referred to Reid and other stormists, said he had never 

 heard of them, and did not believe in what they might say. But that same night 

 the mate was convinced when the gale took the turn predicted by the captain. 



One more occasion Capt. Snow would refer to. He was coming home as passen- 

 ger in a sailing ship ; it was in the end of 1856. Within a few days' sail from England 

 a cyclone came down upon them. Clearly it was passing ahead, and Capt. Snow 

 advised his brother captain to adopt those measures which prudence then suggested, 

 and allow the centre to go by. After some argument this was done ; but, to con- 

 vince the master of the ship, Capt. Snow said that the correctness of his view of the 

 case then, would be proved bv the direction of the wind at that time in the South of 

 England, which should be opposite to what they had it. Four days afterwards they 

 took a pilot, and ascertained it to have been exactly so. 



Note. — The above is merely the substance of remarks made when Admiral FitzRoy read 

 his paper. They form the outline of what was read on a following day, by Captain Snow, 

 when he entered upon details. 



Results of an Investigation into the Phenomena of English Thunder-storms 

 during the years 1857-59. By G. J. S\mons. 



This paper contained an analysis of 1889 observations made in various parts of 

 England during the three years ending December 31st, 1859- 



The average number of days on which thunder-storms occurred at one or more 

 stations was 121, the number of days in each month being — ■ 



January 3 



February 2 



March 6 



April 12 



May 18 



June 20 



October 10 



November fi 



December 5 



July 13 



August 14 



September ... 12 



The effect of thunder-storms on the various meteorological instruments was exa- 

 mined and described, special attention being drawn to those sudden oscillations of the 

 barometer which occur during the height of a storm, and which have been found by 

 Mr. Eaton, of Little Bridy, to be contemporaneous with tidal disturbances. The 

 shape, colour, and disruptive force of lightning were also treated in detail, the 

 frequency with which it assumes a globular form being proved by the number of 

 cases in which it is so described : the determination of colour was not perfectly 

 satisfactory ; the returns taken generally show that forked lightning is usually blue, 

 sheet lightning being, on the contrary, white. Mr Symons, however, supposes that 

 the colour mav vary with the distance of the discharge from the observer, with the 

 density of the air through which it passes, and with the existence or non-existence of 

 other sources of illumination ; but the subject is quite open to investigation : the 

 disruptive force was shown to be often equal to a dead weight of 500 tons. 



The advantage of employing the gutters and rain-water pipes of private houses 

 as lightning conductors, by establishing perfect communication with the earth, and 

 at the same time carrying a short rod from the gutter up the side of the chimneys, 

 was discussed ; the author's opinion being that, although far from a perfect arrange- 

 ment, it would determine the discharge to the outside of the house rather than 

 inside, its most frequent course ; and from its trifling cost it seems more adapted for 

 general use than the expensive forms hitherto employed. 





