370 Canadian Record of Science. 
should, in the general interest, assume the duty of inviting 
opinions upon the subject, to be collated, tabulated and 
published in a special report ; 
(f) Ifthe weight of opinion expressed by those who 
respond to such invitation, bein favour of a change, further 
steps may be taken with the view of reaching an inter- 
national understanding ; 
(g) Your Committee suggest that the opinions which 
have already been expressed by some leading astronomers 
be published. To this end, extracts from the writings of 
Herschel, Struvé, Christie. Newcomb and Franklin, are 
hereto appended; also, remarks recently made by the 
President of the Astronomical and Physical Society of 
Toronto, and the President of the Canadian Institute ; 
(h) Your Committee recommend that replies be asked 
to the following question, and that it be widely circulated :— 
QUESTION. 
Is it desirable, all interests considered, that on and after 
the first day of January, 1901, the Astronomical Day 
should everywhere begin at Mean Midnight ? 
(() Your Committee further suggest that astronomers 
generally throughout the world be invited to send definite 
replies to the question as soon as convenient. Replies to be 
addressed, ‘‘ Joint Committee, Astronomical Time, Canadian 
Institute, Toronto, Canada.” 
Respectfully submitted, 
SANDFORD FLEMING, 
Chairman. 
APPENDIX. 
EXTRACIS FROM THE OPINIONS OF ASTRONOMERS AND OTHERS REFHRRED 
TO BY THD JOINT COMMITTER. 
I. (935) Astronomical time reckons from noon of the current 
day; Civil, from the preceding midnight, so that the two dates 
coincide only during the earlier half of the Astronomical and the 
later half of the Civil Day. This is an inconvenience which might 
be remedied by shifting the astronomical epoch to co-incidence 
with the civil. (147) . . . This usage has its advantages and 
disadvantages, but the latter seem to preponderate; and it would 
oe 
