April 20, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



617 



$654,100, as the cost of the survey during 

 the fiscal year described. 



Following the introduction is an histor- 

 ical sketch of the Coast Survey, stating 

 briefly the phases through which it has 

 passed since its inception, in 1807, and also 

 giving a list of the Superintendents, from 

 the beginning to the present time. As a 

 matter of interest, a sketch is shown giving 

 the outline of the first triangulation laid 

 out on this work. It consists of 11 trigono- 

 metrical points in the vicinity of New York, 

 suitably connected by triangulation, and de- 

 termined and verified by the measurement 

 of two base lines. This work was done as 

 early as 1817. . 



Passing to the second division of the re- 

 port, the scientific and technical results, we 

 find the work classified into : 



CI) Coast Work. 



(2) Geodetic Work. 



(3) Magnetic Work. 



(4) Special Operations. 



(5) Publication of Results. 



Under Coast Worh, a general statement 

 is given of the progress made in Buzzard's 

 Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Lake Pontchartrain, 

 San Francisco Bay, Washington Sound and 

 Alaska. Mention is made of some miscel- 

 laneous charts, and finally a list of hydro- 

 graphic sheets is given, published through 

 the courtesy of the- United States Fish Com- 

 mission, and referring to the work of the 

 steamer Albatross in Southeastern Alaska, 

 under the direction of Commander J. P. 

 Moser, U. S. N. 



The details of field operations comprise a 

 description of the work accomplished in the 

 different localities in hydrography, current 

 observations, topography, etc. 



Besides the regular coast work, a party 

 was sent to the Pribilof Islands, and during 

 the season, which was an exceptionally 

 favorable one for surveying operations, a 

 complete topographical survey was made of 

 St. Paul, St. George, Walrus, and Otter 



islands, on the scale of 1/20,000. Not only 

 this, but the seal rookeries, to the number 

 of eighteen, were completely developed, 

 and maps of them were carefully drawn, 

 on a scale of 1/2000. These show every 

 necessary detail, and furnish most valuable 

 information touching upon the seal industry. 



In January, 1898, an appropriation of 

 $100,000 was made by Congress, in order 

 that immediate information might be se- 

 cured in regard to the mouth of the Yukon 

 and other rivers leading to the gold pro- 

 ducing regions of Alaska. Three parties 

 were sent out in the spring, and valuable 

 results were obtained from all the localities 

 visited. Special attention was given to the 

 mouths of the Yukon and Copper rivers, 

 the region around the head of Lynn Canal, 

 and the passes leading to the Klondike. 



The work of the Coast Pilot Division is 

 briefly stated, and mention is made of the 

 fact that the issue of the U. S. Coast Pilot 

 for the Atlantic Coast has increased from 

 1209 copies during the year 1897, to 1532 

 copies for the following year. 



Prominent among the work accomplished 

 in the Tidal Division during the year was 

 the preparation and completion of Parts I. 

 and II. of a ' Manual of Tides,' by Dr. E. 

 A. Harris. These two parts were published 

 as Appendices Nos. 8 and 9 of the Annual 

 Eeport for 1897, It is proposed to treat 

 the whole subject in five parts. Part III., 

 because it was immediately wanted, ap- 

 peared first, and was published as appendix 

 No. 7 in the Report for 1894. Parts IV. 

 and V. will appear shortly. 



Part I. is a historical treatment of the 

 subject. Part II. refers to tidal observa- 

 tions, the equilibrium theory, and har- 

 monic analysis. Part II. is on connections 

 between harmonic and non-harmonic quan- 

 tities, including applications to the reduc- 

 tion and prediction of tides. Part IV. will 

 treat of tidal theory ; and part V. of tidal 

 streams or currents. 



