ON SEISMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 47 



XL Unpublished Notes relating to Destructive Earthquakes. 



On February 25, 1897, on behalf of the Seismological Committee, 

 I approached the Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign and Colonial 

 Affairs with the object of obtaining their assistance in the compilation 

 of a list of destructive earthquakes. On April 10 a similar application 

 was made to the India Office. These applications received favourable 

 consideration, and a letter, of which the following is a copy, was for- 

 warded to his Majesty's Eepresentatives in certain Foreign Countries, 

 English Colonies, and Dependencies: — 



Sir, — At the present time there exists no complete list of the destructive earth- 

 quakes which have occurred in various parts of the world, but portions of such a list 

 are now being compiled by the Seismological Committee of the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, but the information is defective as to many countries. 

 It is desired, therefore, to obtain such a register giving the dates and places of origin 

 of earthquakes which have produced structural damage in the country in which you 

 have the honour of representing his Majesty's Government. In the list of earth- 

 quakes which it is hoped you may be the means of obtaining, the numerals I, II, and III 

 should be attached to each entry. No. I should refer to those shocks which have 

 shattered a few structures. No. II should be attached to those which have destroyed 

 structures in a limited area. No. Ill to those which have caused destruction over a 

 large area. 



As the records of small earthquakes are not required, the list we ask for will in 

 most instances be short. In some countries such a list may already exist in print. 



The objects in view are threefold. First, to provide material for scientific analysis ; 

 second, to determine the frequency of destructive disturbances hi various countries ; 

 and third, to map out areas where special precautions should be taken with regard to 

 construction. 



I trust you will find it possible to co-operate in the collection of this material, 

 which will posscsB not only scientific but also practical utility. — I remain, Sir, on 

 behalf of the Committee, your obedient servant, 



John Milne, 

 Hon. Secretary Seismological Committee of the British 

 Association. 



The following notes are a resume of the replies which have been 

 received to this letter. In many instances printed matter, as for 

 example the Proceedings of learned societies, special works, official 

 documents, were sent to Shide. As these are in nearly all cases acces- 

 sible to those who desire to see them, I only refer to them by name. So 

 far as possible the earthquakes referred to are those not included in the 

 ' General Catalogue of Destructive Earthquakes.' The countries are 

 arranged alphabetically. 



Abyssinia. — Lord Herbert Hervey, Hon. Charge d'Affaires, reports 

 that no records have been kept so far as he has been able to ascertain. 

 Earthquakes which have taken place in recent times have ben insignifi- 

 cant, and not of sufficient force to bring them within categories I, II, 

 or III. 



West Australia. — The Governor, H.E. Sir Gerald Strickland, 

 reports that no destructive earthquake has been experienced in Western 

 Australia. 



South Australia. — The Government Astronomer, G. F. Dodwell, 

 reports on two earthquakes, May 10, 1897, Class II, origin submarine 

 and not far from Kingston and Beachport. At Kingston, Kobe, and 

 Beachport walls and chimneys were thrown down; slight damage 



