390 REPORTS ON THE STATE, OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
sea. It does not pretend to cover all points. It is intended to show that 
the quiet improvement, step by step, of our recording systems comes first, 
with only the helpful guidance of an. advisory organisation such as might 
be developed out of the beginnings of my ‘ River Flow Records” if it were 
strengthened by a small Council or by formation of an Association to deal 
only with surface water. 
Fishery Boards—Fishermen on all our lakes and rivers have their gauge 
posts and sometimes recorder instruments ; and observers are available. 
It is only necessary to arrange for the data to come into a local office for 
checking and tabulating. One would like to see, eventually, the preparation 
of monthly diagrams of water levels. Fishery Boards could often organise 
this basic work of water levels on our rivers. 
Boating Associations—The statement sent to the Committee by the 
Motor Boat Association is another indication of what may be done on the 
observational side, and here it would seem that the records should go’ to 
the Catchment Board offices. 
This statement is long, and is very briefly summarised in Appendix D (2) (f). 
It has been compiled with much care, and there is no doubt that these 
associations are able to carry through very good work, as is exemplified by 
the charts of small harbours produced by the Cruising Association. 
The Motor Boat Association might be a very useful body to assist in 
connection with records. 
Riverside towns and villages —Here again there should be no difficulty 
with the observational side. Supervision may be very necessary, as such 
centres often view this type of thing from a popular aspect. 
Private estates—There are often good opportunities for observational 
work on private estates ; and experience shows that the best observers are 
those with a routine job throughout the year. 
Water Supply Catchment Areas.—These areas are suitable for complete 
measurements and records, but the design of works and the control of 
flow and the diversion of water from natural catchments complicate the 
problem, and records of total flow are not often maintained. 
The changes in incidence of flow, due to impounding, etc., do not in 
any way falsify the records of aggregate flow ; and analysis of the records 
will give natural flow figures when required. In order that records of 
value may be obtained from these areas, the lay-out of the works should 
be designed for complete measurement, and the keeping up of records 
afterwards should be no side issue. 
Eventually, it is likely that systematic arrangements for measurement 
of total flow will amend, with advantage, present-day measurements of 
water authorities. 
The observational work covers rainfall, storage and flow. The checking 
and filing would fall to the authority’s office; where also the presentation 
of records in suitable form would be dealt with and certain investigation 
would be carried out. Even some additional filing and recording of 
neighbouring stream or river sites might become attached to these centres. 
They would form the proper centre for dealing with the upland records of 
river catchments. Supervision and: direction of these records should be 
under some superintendent of a central water survey authority. 
- Water Power Authorities —On the observational side, these are in similar 
case to water supply areas, and they should not be inferior in the routine 
work of records; but here again, when the works are finished, routine 
measurements should be properly maintained although they may not be a 
commercial necessity. 
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