480 REPORT — 1901. 



Section A, Mathematical and Physical Science. 



The Chairman : The work of Section A includes Meteorology, which 

 is a subject very largely taken up by the Corresponding Societies, and 

 often discussed in these Conferences. As there does not seem to be any 

 representative present, we pass to 



Section B, Chemistry. 



Professor Herbert M'Leod : I should like to say on behalf of Section B 

 that we have nominated a Committee to register the scientific chemists 

 who are at work at different manufactories. Lately a great contrast has 

 been drawn between the way that this country and Germany and other 

 countries are using trained chemists in all their works, and we are 

 seriously afraid that the numbers in this country are very small. The 

 Committee was nominated by Section B to investigate this matter at the 

 suwf'estion of Dr. Armstrong. It strikes me that it is not impossible that 

 many of the members of this Conference might be able to assist in finding 

 out the names of these people. It is not easy for persons living in 

 London to send round to the different works and make inquiries when 

 they may not know even of the existence of these works, and these 

 gentlemen may not be able to assist. 



I should like to refer to another subject which rather interests 

 me at the present moment — I mean the tremendous number of scientific 

 serials that exist. I do not say that they are not of the greatest possible 

 value, but when I tell you that there are about 4,000 serials that 

 have to be indexed for the International Catalogue, you may know the 

 amount of time that is consumed in indexing them. I have in my hands 

 the continuation of the Catalogue of scientific papers of the Royal Society 

 from 1884 to 1900, and I cannot tell you the number of periodicals of 

 which we have a list, but it must not be far short of 1,000. It is possible 

 that these may contain papers of great value, and some must be of com- 

 paratively small value. We do not wish to catalogue any reprints or ab- 

 stracts. I think that many members of this Conference might be of great 

 assistance to us in telling us what would be advisable to index in their 

 own periodicals, and if any of you will be good enough to write to me on 

 the subject I shall be delighted. We begin at 1884, and we go up to 1900. 



The Chairman : I understand that the representatives of the Sections 

 are supposed to explain to the Delegates what work the Corresponding 

 Societies can do to assist the various Committees that are appointed by 

 the Sections. Then we come to 



Section C, Geology. 



Mr. A. S. Reid : I was asked to represent Section C. There has been 

 no new Committee nominated in Section C, and there are only the old ones. 

 The subjects which appeal to all the Societies are geological and photo- 

 graphic subjects, the registi-ation of type specimens of fossils, and the 

 movement of underground waters. The other subjects do not appeal to 

 so many. The exploration of Irish caves does not naturally appeal 

 to any of the English or Scotch clubs, and the study of the structure of 

 crystals is more a matter for experts ; but wc have the subject of erratic 

 blocks and their area. The Geological Photographic Committee has been 

 doino- certain new work during this term of office, which Professor Watts 

 could explain. 



