658 REPORT—1883. 
bowl, light being supplied at night by a top lamp. The registering apparatus is 
fitted in the bowl below the card. It consists of a barrel containing clockwork, 
which causes a second barrel within the first to continuously revolve at a given 
speed, the outer barrel being fixed and having two slots cut through on its upper 
surface parallel to the axis. The compass card has also a slot, curved in such a 
manner that some one part of it is always across one or other of the straight slots 
in the drum, and as the inner barrel is when in use covered with a sensitised paper, 
it will be at once understood that in whatever course the ship is being steered a ray 
of light either from the sun or from the lamp will pass through the small opening 
made at the intersection of the curved slot in the card with one or other of the 
straight slots in the drum envelope, and will produce a black mark upon the pre- 
pared paper, more or less distant from the centre of the card, which from its 
position will give an exact indication of the course of the vessel at the time. The 
revolving motion of the drum gives the duration of time the ship’s head is on each 
course, as well as the time such courses are changed. 
3. The Working of Slate Quarries. By A. W. DarBIsHIRE. 
The author gave an account of the modern method of working slate quarries, 
the conditions necessary for success, the cost, &c. 
4. The Action of Waves on Sea Beaches. By A. R. Hunt, M.A., F.G.S. 
The author referred to the difference of opinion that exists as to the relative 
accumulative and destructive action on beaches of large and small waves; and 
further, as to the size of shingle that is propelled by waves to the greatest 
height. 
He endeavoured, by a description of a series of observations and experiments, 
to show that the ordinary oscillating wind-wave or swell is never converted into a 
wave of translation, and that it is to the assumption that the character of such 
ordinary waves is so altered on approaching the shore, that much of the uncertainty 
at present prevailing is due. 
5. Harbours of Refuge. By Ropert Carper, F.R.G.S. 
The writer showed how the anomalies of the present system of shipping dues, 
varying as they do at almost every port in the kingdom, tend to divert certain 
articles of commerce from Great Britain to foreign ports. He instanced the 
Eastern trade, which at one time centred in London, having been transferred to 
continental ports; and the Australian wool trade, which properly belonged to 
England, was now going to Antwerp; while a large American trade had found its 
way to Havre. There are about 250 harbours in the United Kingdom governed 
by local authorities, and about 200 creeks and so-called harbours in the hands of 
individual proprietors, which are largely supported and maintained by charges 
upon ships and their cargoes. So complicated is the system that it is impossible 
to obtain reliable information on the subject of dock charges and the financial 
position of our harbours. He also showed the varying character of pilotage imposts. 
In order to compete with foreign ports our import charges, especially on raw ma- 
terials, must be kept low. He instanced the vexatious divisions and ruling divisions 
of rating in the port of Liverpool, and also pointed out that the reduction by Mr. 
Gladstone, when Chancellor of the Exchequer, in 1853, of the articles contained in the 
customs charges from 460 to 48 had worked with advantage, both to the customs 
authorities and the harbour authorities. He contended that the charges levied on 
shipping in Great Britain were extravagant, and urged that a uniform toll of 
75 per cent. of what was now levied would be sufficient, without going to the 
public exchequer, to provide and maintain harbours of refuge and to conform to all 
the parliamentary requirements as to sinking funds and so on. He held that each 
