456 REPORT—1904. 
The Indian Meteorological Department is making preparations to carry out a 
portion of this work ; and will undoubtedly do the best it can single-handed with 
its limited means. It cannot do the work fully and as it ought to be done. It 
can do nothing which requires authoritative control over the remaining meteoro- 
logical systems in the Indo-oceanic field. It is collecting information from those 
who are willing to supply it, and will utilise it for its special purposes. 
It isevident the work can only be carried out fully by the co-operation of the 
various systems subject to limited control by a central office with acknowledged 
imperial or general authority behind it. The most important part of the work 
from the standpoint of the science of meteorology is the comparison and discussion 
of the whole body of observations. The constitution, position, and authority of 
the central office is hence of the greatest importance. It is quite certain that 
none of the meteorological systems directly concerned can provide such a central 
office. If the work is to be carried out fully and systematically it can only be 
arranged for in England, and by the English Government assuming the general 
direction and control. At the present time a section of the English Meteoro- 
logical Office is devoted to the study of oceanic meteorology for the information of 
mariners. Another section should be created for the study of imperial meteorology 
for the benefit of its dependencies and colonies. I have reason to believe that the 
Government of India would contribute its share towards the cost of this extension 
of work. 
In the preceding remarks are given the chief reasons for an important exten- 
sion of work now in progress in the Indian Meteorological Department, an exten- 
sion which can only be carried out imperfectly by that Department, but which 
could be performed with most valuable scientific results by the co-ordination of 
the labours of the weather bureaus concerned, with a central institution or in- 
vestigating office in England under Government control, 
Perhaps I may be permitted, from my Indian experience, to add some general 
remarks bearing on the methods and progress of meteorological inquiry. 
In India the collection and publication of accurate current data relating to 
rainfall and temperature is required for the information of Government in its 
various Departments. The collection and examination of pressure and wind 
data by a central office with a view to the issue of storm and flood warnings is 
equally necessary. This work may, perhaps, be described as pertaining to 
descriptive or economic meteorology. 
Economic meteorology, so long as it deals only with actual facts of observa- 
tion, is not a science. Forecasts belong to the same department or branch of 
meteorology. They may be based on scientific theory and be obtained by 
scientific methods or the utilisation of empirical knowledge. The latter method is 
probably sufficient for by far the greater part of short-period forecast work, but 
the final development of that work and the preparation of long-period forecasts 
require the application of exact scientific methods and knowledge. And it is, 
perhaps, not too much to say that the extension of the range or period of fore- 
casts is a measure of the progress of meteorology as a science. India, by the 
simplicity and massiveness of its meteorological changes (and perhaps Australia 
and Africa), appears to be best suited for the earliest experiments in this work, 
India is, however, poor, not only in material wealth and capital as compared 
with England, but also in the appliances and means of scientific investigation, 
and hence looks to England for assistance and guidance in scientific matters, 
Unfortunately, England lags behind, not only the United States and Germany, 
but even behind India, in the important field of scientific meteorological inquiry. 
Tt will suffice to give a single illustration of the anomalous and inferior position 
which England takes in such matters. 
All meteorologists and scientific men generally are agreed that the exploration 
of the middle and upper atmosphere by any available means—e.g., kites, balloons, 
&c.—is of the utmost importance at the present stage of meteorological inquiry. 
The United States, France, and Germany have taken up the work vigorously. 
The English Meteorological Office is unable, for want of funds, to share or take 
any part in the work. The force of scientific and public opinion is apparently 
