September 21, 1883.] 



SCIENCE. 



409 



ture, the best conibioation is the mean of the seven 

 A.M., two and nine p.m. observations, but the mean 

 of the inaximum and minimum is nearly as good. — 

 {lieob. met. stiit. in liivjern, iv. 4.) w. u. [251 



Rainfall at Hawaii. — The meteorological condi- 

 tions of ibe island of Hawaii are so peculiar, that, 

 though the island is not large, in one portion rain 

 seldom falls, and the land is a desert; while in anotlier 

 the rainfall is so e.xcessive that it is said it should be 

 measured, not in inches, but in feet. In proof of the 

 excessive rainfall, the following figures have been 

 furnished by Dr. C. S. Kittredge of Hilo, Hawaii. 

 The observations were made by Dr. Wetmore at 

 Hilo. 



Rainfall at Hilo, Uawaii. 



Janimry . 

 February . 

 March 

 April . . 

 May . . 



July '. '. 

 AuKUst . 

 Bcplrmbcr 

 Oclobor . 

 November 

 December 



Surae. 



For the three years April 1, 1880 to April 1, 1883, the 

 total amoimt is 463.6 inches, averaging 154..5 inches 

 each year. — w. u. [252 



GEOGRAPHY. 



(^Arctic.) 

 North-west America. — Reports from the island 

 of Kadiak, Alaska, state that the spring has been un- 

 usually late, and on the 6th of June summer seemed 

 to have just set in. During the preceding three 

 months, the rainfall had averaged eleven inches per 

 month. Salmon -canneries had been established at 

 Karluk, on the island of Kadiak, and at Seal bay, 

 Afognak island. On Cook's inlet, a cannery had 

 been established at the Kassilax river. Exploring 

 parlies were examining the shores of the inlet for 

 minerals. One party was ascending the Sushitno 

 river, where Doroschin reported gold many years ago. 

 Another party had sailed for Kamishak bay, Aliaska 

 peninsula. An experiment in sheep-raising has been 

 going on, on the island of Kadiak, for three years. 

 Success seemed certain, as the wool improved in 

 quantity and quality, and was free from burrs and 

 impurities. In adding to the number, an epidemic 

 disease was introduced; and of the flock of three 



hundred, only about thirty survived. Rev. S. Hall 



Toung has been making a study of the religious be- 

 lief of the T'linkit Indians of the Alexander archi- 

 pelago, which will shortly be made public. The 



U. S. revenue-steamer Curwin left Sitka on her 



Arctic cruise, June 10. At Juneau City, the 



largest shipment of gold-dust ever made was sent by 

 the June steamer. The troubles among the miners 

 here have caused many to depart. It appears that 



the rock containing the gold Is of a loosely crystalline 

 or granular nature, whicli weathers to a gravel. The 

 lighter portions of this wash away in the rains; but 

 the gold settles down into the remainder, which be- 

 comes much richer than the original rock in equal 

 quantities. This gravel is said to exist on the upper 

 parts of the auriferous mountain-belt. Prospectors 

 claim this gravel as placers, and desire to work it 

 under the law governing placer-mining. The com- 

 panies who have taken up ((uartz- claims desire to 

 have it regarded as quartz or vein mineral: hence 

 the conflict, which was to have been settled by 

 the ofllcers of the U.' S. S. Corwin. The decision 



has not been made public. Prospectors have 



gone to explore the country about Yakutat bay, 

 where the Indians have hitherto been hostile. Re- 

 ports as to its richness in gold have long been preva- 

 'lent; but so many have met their death from the 

 natives, that hitherto no one has dared attempt ex- 

 ploration. The parly consists of five men, with six 

 months' provisions, and was transported by the 

 U. S. S. Adams. The prestige of the naval vessel, 



it is hoped, will afford them protection. The 



schooner Alaska has sailed from San Francisco, 

 for Golovine sound, Alaska, taking with her a small 

 stern-wheel steamer and a complete mining equip- 

 ment and some twenty-five miners. The mines are 

 situated on the Fish river, which forms part of the 

 water-communication between Grantley harbor and 

 Golovine sound. It is stated that the ore is a very 

 rich argentiferous galena. The parties engaged in 

 the enterprise have been several years investigating 

 the deposit, and feel sufficiently encouraged to begin 

 a regular prosecution of the business. In this vicin- 

 ity, graphite is known to occur in a sienitic rock, 

 in considerable quantities. This will be the most 

 northern mine actually worked in the western hem- 

 isphere. — w. H. D. [253 

 (South Ainerica.) 



Bove's new expedition. — Lieut. Bove pro- 

 poses a new expedition to complete studies begun 

 during his last journey in the southern part of the 

 Argentine republic. He proposes to investigate the 

 present physical and economic condition of the coun- 

 try, with a view to closer commercial relations with 

 Ii.aly. He will take up the exploration of Patagonia 

 and Tierra del Fuego, especially the basin of Santa 

 Cruz, the canals of western Patagonia, and the habit- 

 able country extending from the Ona to the Cioniu 

 Clionos. The inhabitants are totally unknown. The 

 explorer has placed himself at the disposition of the 

 Argentine government for the purpose of placing 

 light-houses on Staten island and other points need- 

 ful for navigation, an arrangement which will facili- 

 tate the prosecution of his other investigjitions. For 

 transportation he will depend partly on the English 

 missionary board, who have promised co-operation, 

 and will afterward equip for exploration one of the 

 small vessels always obtainable for such purposes 

 cither at the Falkland islands or Punta Arenas. The 

 journey will occupy a year, and cost about five thou- 

 sand dollars. — {liecue geoyr. June, 1883.) w. u. d. 



[254 



