ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE. 109 
of the Committee are due to the Rev. W. O’Leary and the authorities 
of Mungret College for their assistance, without which such a series of 
ascents would have been quite beyond the resources at the disposal of 
the Committee. 
The Joint Committee have arranged to continue ascents at 
Mungret College, but they have decided that investigations over the 
sea are necessary both to supplement this work and to solve the 
problem of the effect of the ocean on the height of the stratosphere, 
and to throw further light on the connection between the distribution 
of pressure and the vertical temperature gradient. 
There is, moreover, a better chance of recovering balloons at sea 
than on land in clear weather, since a vessel of moderate speed can 
keep the balloon in sight for a sufficient time to give a good indication 
of the place of fall. 
The Committee therefore ask for reappointment with a grant of 
501., to be devoted to balloon ascents over the sea. 
Experiments for improving the Construction of Practical 
Standards for Electrical Measurements.—Report of the Com- 
mittee, consisting of Lord RAYLEIGH (Chairman), Dr. R. T. 
GLAZEBROOK (Secretary), Professors J. Perry, W. G. ADAMS, 
and G. CAREY Foster, Sir OLIVER LopGE, Dr. A. MUIRHEAD, 
Sir W. H. Preece, Professors A. ScHuster, J. A. FLEMING, 
and Sir J. J. THomson, Dr. W. N. SHaw, Dr. J. T. 
Bottomuety, Rev. T. C. Firzpatrick, Professor S. P. 
THompPson, Mr. J. Rennig, Principal E. H. Grirrirus, Sir 
ARTHUR RUCKER, Professor H. L. CALLENDAR, and Messrs. 
G. Marruey, T. Matuer, and F. E. Smirx. 
Ir was understood at the last meeting of the Committee that when the 
republication of the Reports was complete the Committee would not ask 
for reappointment. The Reports from 1861 to 1911 inclusive have now 
passed through the press, and it is intended that this, the 1912 and final 
Report of the Committee, should conclude the reprints, which will be 
on sale in the autumn of the present year. 
It seems desirable, however, that the Committee should remain in 
existence until all questions connected with the republication are deter- 
mined, and accordingly they ask for reappointment. 
With regard to absolute measurements we have, as the direct result 
of the work of members of the Committee, two pieces of apparatus 
which should prove equal to any demand for precise measurements in 
the absolute system for very many years. 
A report of the British Association Ayrton-Joneg current balance 
appeared in 1908, and it was stated at that time that the probable error 
associated with a determination of current in absolute measure was 
about two parts in 100,000. Since then the balance has been used on 
several occasions ; it continues to give satisfaction, and there appears to 
he no reason for-doubt that so far as the absolute measurement of current 
