2 ie aa 
Reckoning the Astronomical Day. 369 
As it is intended to send copies of further papers on this 
subject to those replying, it is desirable that the full name, 
official designation, if any (professional or non-professional) 
and proper address be furnished with each reply. 
ALAN MacDovuGatt, 
G. E. Lumspsn, 
Joint Secretaries. 
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE 
OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE AND THE ASTRONOMICAL AND PHYSICAL 
SOCIETY OF TORONTO. 
SANDFORD FLemine, C.E., C.M.G., LL.D., Ete., Chairman. 
Canadian Institute. Astronomical Society. 
ArTHUR Harvey, President. CHARLES CARPMAEL, M.A.,F.R.A.S., Ete., Pres. 
Gro. Kennepy, M.A., LL.D. Joun A. Parerson, M.A. 
ALAN MacpouGat., C.E., See. G. E. Lumspen, Corresponding Secretary. 
Toronto, April 20th, 1893. 
Your Committee on the subject of Astronomical Time 
Reckoning, beg leave to report as follows :— 
(a) That the Sixth Resolution of The Washington Inter- 
national Conference of 1884, which was carried unanimously 
by the representatives of the twenty-five nations there 
assembled, counting among them several astronomers of 
world-wide fame, reads as follows :— ‘“ The Conference 
expresses the hope that, as soon as may be practicable, the 
Astronomical and Nautical Days will be arranged every- 
where to begin at Mean Midnight; ” 
(b) If any action is to be taken on this Resolution, the 
most appropriate date for the new reckoning to take effect 
would be the first day of the new century ; 
(c) As the Ephemerides are usually prepared four or five 
years in advance, it is obvious that if it be decided to make 
Astronomical Time accord with Civil Time at the date 
named, a common understanding should not be delayed 
beyond the year 1895 or 1896 ; 
(d) To arrive at an agreement, it is considered essential 
to ascertain the views of those concerned ; 
(e) The Canadian Institute and the Astronomical Society 
