280 



REPORT — 1898. 



cent, of the possible sunshine. The maximum was 170 hours in July, and 

 the minimum 21 hours in March, these being respectively the absolutely 

 largest and the smallest numbers of hours of sunshine recorded in any 

 previous July and March. At Fort William the number of hours for the 

 year was 1,184, being the largest annual number recorded since 1891, 

 when the number was 1,220 hours. The maximum was 200 hours in 

 May, and the minimum 22 hours in December. As regards the 22 hours 

 in December, this number is larger tlian that of previous Decembers since 

 1890. The annual number of hours, 1,184, at Fort William is 34 per cent, 

 of the possible sunshine there. 



In the subjoined Table II. there are given for each month the lowest 

 observed hygrometric readings : — 



Table II. 



Of these lowest monthly humidities, the lowest occurred in January, 

 when the dew-point was — 17°'8; the elastic force of vapour -018 ihch, 

 and relatiA'e humidity 13. Very low humidities also were recorded in 

 February and in December. Just as happened in the previous year, no 

 very low humidity occurred in September, the lowest relative humidity 

 being 55. 



At the Ben Nevis Obsei'vatory the mean percentage of cloud was 84, 

 which is nearly the average, the maximum being 95 in MarcJi and the 

 minimum 70 in November; and at Fort William the mean was 71, the 

 maximum being 78 in November and the minimum GO in May. 



The mean rainband (scale — 8) observations at the top was 2*1 for 

 the year, the maximum being 2'7 in September and the minimum 1*0 in 

 January. At Fort William the mean for the year was 3'4, the maximum 

 being 4-3 in March and the minimum 2'1 in January. 



The mean hourly velocity of the wind at the top of Ben Nevis was 

 16 miles per hour, being the highest since 1891 ; the maximum velocity 

 was 23 miles in March, and in January the number was 22 miles. The 

 lowest velocity was 12 miles in July and again in September, this being 

 the lowest minimum hitherto recorded in any previous year. 



The rainfall for the year was 154"76 inches, or fully 6 per cent, above 

 the average. The previous large annual rainfalls exceeding the above 

 were 197^95 inches in 1890, 178'74 inches in 1891, and 165'77 inches in 

 1893. The largest monthly amount was 2007 inches in December, and 

 the smallest 3*42 inches in January, or only 22 per cent, of the average 

 rainfall of the month. The heaviest fall on any single day was 4*52 

 inches on the 25th of February. 



At the top of the mountain rain fell on 238 days, and at Fort William 

 on 234 days, these being respectively twenty-two days and four days 

 under the averages. At the top the maximum number of rainy days was 



