ON RADIOTELKGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS. 273 



Radiotelegraphiclnvestij^atlons. — Report of Committee (Sir Oliveb 

 LoDGK, Chairman; Professor W. H. Eccles, Secretary; Mr. S. G. 

 Brown, Dr. C. Chree, Sir P. W. Dyson, Professor H. S. 

 Eddington, Dr. Erskine Murr.\y, Professors J. A. Fleming, 

 G. W. O. Howe, H. M. M.\cdon.\ld, and J. W. Nicholson, Sir 

 H. NoRM.\N, Sir A. Schuster, Sir Napier Shaw, Professor H. H. 

 Turner). Drawn up by the Chairman. 



The Committee on Radiotelegraphic Investigations was appointed at tlie Dundee 

 Meeting in 1912, after a discussion upon tiie unsolved proljlems of wireless 

 telegraphy which was opened by Professor J. A. Fleming. In the course of 

 the following year the Committee decided to concentrate upon two or three of 

 the principal large-scale phenomena, such as the variations in tiie strength of 

 signals that have travelled long distances, and the nature of the electric waves 

 that cause the telegraphic distui'bances knovv^n as 'strays' or 'atmospherics.' 



The Committee therefore organised a scheme of simultaneous widespread 

 observations and proceeded to obtain the co-operation and support of Govern- 

 ment departments, commercial companies, scientific workers, and amateurs. 

 They drew up a series of forms suitable for distribution to all types of wireless 

 observers in various countries. 



During the winter of 1913-14 many forms were distributed, and many were 

 duly filled and returned for analysis. The Committee's programme for the 

 collection of observations was gradually extended to all parts of the English- 

 speaking world and to several other countries. The Governments and the 

 wireless companies of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, 

 India, and the United States of America co-operated cordially. A special 

 effort was made to obtain world-wide observations during the progress of the 

 solar eclipse of August 31, 1914. But the outbreak of war sadly interfered with 

 all these projects, especially in Europe. Nevertheless, sufficient information 

 was collected to enable the preparation of the report presentejl at Manchester 

 in 1915. The report discussed observations made in nearly every ocean and in 

 many other parts of the globe, and is thought to constitute a landmark in the 

 subject of large-scale radiotelegraphic investigation. 



Since the conclusion of the War the chief item of work undertaken by the 

 Committee was in connection with the solar eclipse of IMay 29, 1919. Observa- 

 tions were made in many countries, and a digest of the data collected formed 

 the main substance of the report presented at Bournemouth in 1919. 



Nevertheless, in view of the formation of the International Union of Radio- 

 telegraphic Science, the Committee decided to discontinue their work, which, 

 in fact, had embraced an area practically coincident with that contemplated 

 by the new International Union. At the first meeting of the Union, held in 

 Brussels on July 24, 1922, this decision was formally communicated to the Union, 

 and arrangements were made for the transference to the Union of such of the 

 Committee's records as have not yet been analysed, and also such as are likely 

 to be of interest to the Union. 



The expenditure of the Committee from the date of its inception in 1912 

 amounts to a total of 479^. Is. G{d., and for this the Committee are indebted to 

 the Caird Fund. Accounts and vouchers showing details of expenditure have 

 been duly sent in. 



The Committee is appreciative of the way in which its Hon. Secretary has 

 conducted its affairs through an unexpectedly troublous time. 



V 9 



