122 APPENDIX. 



The state of the weather has immense influence on all our operations even on land, 

 but to all engaged in maritime pursuits the weather has an importance which cannot be 

 over-estimated. And if it be possible te foresee the approach of good or bad weather, 

 and to warn the farmer to save his crops and the seaman to make for or remain in port, 

 such a faculty will enable us to prevent the loss of immense wealth and invaluable 

 human life. 



That the state of the weather depends (as do all other operations of nature) on 

 invariable and ascertainable laws, is certain and incontrovertible. But it is equally 

 certain that these laws are as yet unknown or very partially known to as, and that they 

 can become known only by the accumulation and generalization of an immense body of 

 facts. 



To contribute even in a small degree to bring on the day when the weather can be 

 predicted with tolerable certainty a week or so in advance, is an object worthy of the 

 attention of a Scientific Institution. 



In England as in the United States, this subject continues to occupy the careful 

 attention of scientific men, and though much remains to do, very valuable results have 

 already been attained. 



I need only point to the weather '• forecasts" of the late lamented Admiral Fitz Roy 

 as an example. Eeceiving by telegraph each morning the state of the Barometric 

 column at many parts of the coasts of the United Kingdom and of the continent of 

 Europe, the Admiral communicated his expectations as to the weather to most of the 

 ports frequented by shipping, and a simple system of signals indicated the probable 

 approach of a gale and the point from which it might be expected. 



Although not in every instance correct, there is no doubt that these signals have 

 been the means of saving life and property to a large extent. 



With these few remarks I venture to urge on the Institute of Natural Science the 

 importiince of promoting careful and continuous records of the meteorology of the 

 country, and to submit for consideration a few suggestions as to the mode of taking 

 observations. 



The instruments should be by the best makers, and all carefully compared with 

 a standard instrument, either at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, or at one of the 

 United States Observatories. 



All the instruments (not self-registering) should be read at stated times — say at 

 9 A. M. and 3 p. m., and oftener if possible ; but if by any accident the observation 

 cannot be taken within a few minutes of the prescribed time, the reading should be 

 omitted altogether. 



Observations, as to the correctness of which there is any doubt, are worse than 

 u.-;oless. 



At least six theniiometers should be used, four of them self-registering ; one to give the 

 niaximum teiniieruture in the shade, and one in the sun; one to give the minimum tempe- 

 rature, al)oiit four feet from the ground, and one on the surface (if possible) of grass. A 

 pair of thermometers, one with a wet and the other with a dry bulb, should also be 

 suspended about four feet from the ground, and from these instruments all the obser- 

 vations necessary for calculating, the hygromctric condition of the atmosphere may be 

 obtained. 



Tlicie is, I believe, an ethcient aurmometer fixed in an admirable position at Halifax, 

 ;uid 1 have no doubt that the results obtained from that instrument would be placed, by 

 the couitosy of the Royal Engineei-s, at the service of the Institution of Natural 

 Science. The estimate of the amount of rain-fall in the year would be attended with 

 SDine difliculty, owing to the low temperature of the winter months and the consequent 



