104 



REPORT — 1892. 



the terrible catastrophe which occurred last year (1891), suffering the 

 most. 



In the neighbourhood of Gifa people were thrown into a state of 

 alarm. The banks of the Nagara River were rent for some distance. 

 There was much damage to porcelain, wine-bottles, &c. Pendulum- 

 clocks, especially those facing towards the south or north, were stopped. 

 According to the observations of the Gifa Observatory, the duration of 

 the earthquake was about 2 minutes 30 seconds. The movement, which vas 

 very slight at first, was followed three minutes after by a violent shaking, 

 and at the fifth second the range of motion to the north and south was 

 4 bu 4 rin (about -^ in.). But, from the moment at which the east and 

 west motion came into play, the intensity was so much increased that the 

 two leaden cylinders of the seismometer, together with the index, were 

 overthrown, which put an end to the observations. The maximum range, 

 however, seems to have been about 21 mm. 



S. July 28, at 11.40 p.m. A short description of this earthquake, by 

 which 20 persons were killed, 74 wounded, and many buildings destro_5ed, 

 is given in the tenth Report (1890). For a full account see the paper 

 by Messrs. Sekiya and Kikuchi forming vol. xiii.. Part II., of the ' Trans- 

 actions of the Seismological Society,' also vol. xvi. of the same publication. 



4. December 31, 1 p.m. This earthquake extended from Yezo in the 

 north to beyond Tokio in the south, shaking 9,210 square ri of country. 

 It seems to have originated in the bed of the Pacific. 



Earthquakes Olserved at the Central Observatory in Tokio. 



Between January and December, in Tokio, 113 shocks were recorded, 

 a list of which has appeared in pi'evious Reports. 



I. Frequency of Earthquakes per Season. 

 The following table will show the seismic frequency per month : — 



From the above table we see that the maximum frequency was in 

 April, while the minimum one was in January and July. 



The following table shows the seismic frequency per season :- 



The following table shows the frequency in the hot and cold 

 seasons : — 



October to March. Cold 



53 



April to September. Hot 



58 



Average 



66-5 



