July 7, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



25 



we are accustomed to understand by this name, 

 or to which Battell gave the name of Pongo, or 

 ' greater monster,' They are supposed by 

 many to have been chimpanzees. 



C. R Eastman. 

 Harvard University. 



WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TER- 

 RESTRIAL MAGNETISM OF THE 

 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF 

 WASHINGTON FOR 1905. 



Office Work. 



I. Continuation of the study of the secular 

 variation and compilation of data and prepa- 

 ration for publication on a comprehensive, 

 uniform plan. [The investigations have al- 

 ready progressed far enough to have war- 

 ranted beginning at once the observational 

 work referred to below.] 



II. Discussion and publication of the data 

 on the magnetic perturbation observed during 

 the eruption of Mont Pelee, Martinique, 1902. 

 [It is hoped to have this work in published 

 form by end of year.] 



III. A general study of the laws of the di- 

 urnal variation to serve as the basis for de- 

 termining corrections and their reliability for 

 the reduction of field observations. 



IV. Special investigation of magnetic 

 storms with the view of determining a work- 

 ing method for the discussion and analysis of 

 such fluctuations. [These studies are being 

 conducted under the direction of Professor 

 Adolf Schmidt, at Potsdam, with the aid of 

 funds supplied by the department. Professor 

 Schmidt hopes to be able to contribute a paper 

 on the subject towards the close of the year.] 



V. Continuation of a card catalogue of 

 publications and investigations in terrestrial 

 magnetism and terrestrial electricity and al- 

 lied subjects and collecting of information of 

 work done and being done so as to avoid as 

 far as possible needless duplication. 



Field Worh. 

 In pursuance of the plan for the completion 

 of a general magnetic survey of the accessible 

 regions of the globe within a period of fifteen 

 to twenty years and of the general investiga- 

 tion of the secular variation, the following 



observational work is now in actual progress. 

 In all likelihood, the requisite funds for this 

 vast undertaking will be supplied chiefly by 

 the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and 

 in fact it is the expectation that the opera- 

 tions under the auspices of this institution 

 will probably cover about three fourths of the 

 total area to be surveyed. However, the suc- 

 cessful execution of the plan requires the 

 harmonious cooperation and concerted action 

 of all civilized countries; accordingly, definite 

 steps in this direction will be formulated in 

 conformity with the advice of leading investi- 

 gators. 



A. Magnetic Survey of the North Pacific 

 Ocean. — A wooden sailing-vessel, the brig, 

 Galilee, of San Francisco, built in 1891, 

 length 132.5 feet, breadth 33.5 feet, depth 12.7 

 feet, displacement about 600 tons, carrying a 

 crew of eight men and sailing-master, has 

 been chartered and is now being fully adapted 

 for the purposes of the expedition. 



The scientific leader and commander of the 

 vessel — Mr. J. F. Pratt — is one of the most 

 efficient officers of the United States Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey. Commander Pratt has 

 had thirty years' experience in astronomical, 

 geodetic, hydrographic and magnetic work, 

 and has had command both of sailing-vessels 

 and of steamers engaged in coast-survey work. 

 By the courtesy of the Secretary of Conmierce 

 and Labor and the Superintendent of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey he has been 

 granted the necessary furlough and will enter 

 the temporary employ of the Carnegie Institu- 

 tion for the purpose of assisting in the in- 

 auguration of the magnetic survey of oceanic 

 areas. The other members of the scientific 

 corps will be Dr. J. Hobart Egbert, mag-netic 

 observer, surgeon and naturalist, and Mr. J. 

 P. Ault, magnetic observer. 



The first cruise will be in a region where 

 the various methods to be employed can fully 

 be tested and controlled, viz. : San Francisco, 

 San Diego, Honolulu, Umanak, Aleutian 

 Islands, Sitka. The magnetic elements are 

 to be determined as follows : Declination by 

 two compasses (a liquid one and a dry one) 

 using various azimuth devices, horizontal in- 

 tensity by a new method being devised which. 



