278 METEOROLOGICAL REPOET, 1868. 



ship building, but most unquestionably the greater part of the 

 gain arises from the reduction to practical use of long continued 

 observations made on the wind and weather. The average pas- 

 sage to California, one of the most trying to the skill of the 

 sailor, has been reduced from one hundred and eighty-three 

 days to one hundred and thirty-five. The saving on the voyage 

 to China has not been so great, but even there ten days have 

 been gained. At the meeting of the British Association in 1853 

 it was stated, that the merchants of Bombay estimated the an- 

 nual saving which vfould accrue to British commerce, from tbe 

 use of properly constructed wind and weather charts, would be 

 from two hundred to four hundred thousand pounds ! 



The English Government has hitherto been amongst the fore- 

 most in Europe in promoting and encouraging meteorological 

 observations. On the death of Admiral Fitzroy a Committee of 

 the members of the Koyal Society and others was appointed, to 

 consider the subject of the continuance and organization of the 

 meteorological department of the Board of Trade, over which 

 the late admiral had presided. The report of that Committee 

 was presented to Parliament in 1866. In the autumn of 1866 

 the Board of Trade stated that they and the Admiralty were 

 prepared to support the course proposed in that report. The 

 Meteorological Committee consequently appointed met for the 

 first time on January the 3rd, and to Mr. E. R. Scott was en- 

 trusted the office of director of the work. The Committee have 

 divided their operations into three great branches. First — 

 Ocean Meteorology. The object is to deduce the Meteorology 

 of all parts of the ocean from observations made by ships. Many 

 members of our Club who are interested in shipping, and who 

 have influence with the captains of our foreign-going merchant 

 ships, might render the most essential service in this part of 

 the work. The Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society 

 are prepared to lend to captains of the mercantile marine instru- 

 ments which have been tested at Kew, and also to allow captains 

 to purchase any of those instruments at cost price. The com- 

 plete set of instruments consists of a barometer (Kew pattern). 



