BY THE REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A. 279 



six thermometers, one thermometer screen, four hydrometers, 

 and, in exceptional cases, an Azimuth compass.* 



The observations taken are to be sent in to the committee on 

 the return of the vessel to England for reduction. 



It may not be travelling too far out of the way of this report 

 to bring before the members of the Tyneside Club, especially 

 those whose fortunes are more or less dependant on shipping, a 

 few of the results already obtained. This cannot be better done 

 than by a brief extract from the last report issued by the Meteo- 

 rological Committee. 



A plan for reducing the observations which had already been 

 collected under Admiral Fitzroy's management having been de- 

 termined on, the next step was "to choose the district on which 

 operations should be commenced. The region chosen was that 

 part of the Atlantic which lies betv/een the parallels of 20° N. 

 and 10° S. Its northern limit is permanently within the region 

 of the north-east, and its southern of the south-east trade. 

 Between these Trade winds is included the belt familiarly known 

 as the ' Equatorial Doldrums,' whose annual oscillation in posi- 

 tion extends from the neighbourhood of the equator to about the 

 parallel of 15° N. 



" It is evident that the periodical changes which take place in 

 this part of this ocean could not be traced, unless the observa- 

 tions were subjected to such a minute examination as is requisite 

 in order to obtain monthly means for single square degrees. 



"It is hoped that, by means of this investigation, a solution 

 may be furnished to the question so frequently asked by com- 

 manders who have kept registers for the meteorological depart- 

 ment, viz., what is the best route for crossing the equator in 

 each month? The registers of one month abound with bitter 

 complaints against the westerly route, while those of another 

 month are full of its praise. 



* The prices at which captains can be supplied from the office of the Bleteorological Com- 

 mittee in Victoria Street, London, are for the barometer £3 ISs., six thermometers £2 2s., 

 one thermometer screen 10s., four hydrometers £1 Is., including the cliargcs for the verifi- 

 cation of the instruments. Register forms are also issued in duplicate. One copy for the 

 captain's own use, the other to be returned to the Committee at the end of the voyage. 



