230 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT ST. MARTIN, ISLE JESUS. 



[1854. 



Through course of time (roughly estimated at about 20 years) 

 the sand accumulating east of the canal would reach the line A B 

 and ultimately round the piers. Then it would be necessary to 

 make another provision for its retention. A groyne on the line 

 G F would effect this object, and retain the sand for another 

 period, until it reached as far as the line E F. The canal might 

 thus be kept open by repeating the construction of groynes like 

 E F and H K, ad infinitum, from time to time as necessity 

 required ; or the same purpose may be effected by simply extend- 

 ing the eastern pier as the sand accumulated outward along its 

 eastern side. 



The canal, having thus the effect of widening the Isthmus and 

 removing all probability of its destruction, would, besides being 

 a great accommodation to sailing craft in adverse winds, and to 

 steam vessels at all times likely enough prove of service in another 

 respect. The purity of the water in the bay is ever liable to be 

 impaired by the vessels in dock, and its close proximity to the 

 city. The canal would provide an additional opening for the 

 ingress and egress of the slight tidal waves formerly referred to, 

 doubtless presenting greater facilities for the renewal of the water 

 in the harbour on its occasional fluctuations in level. 



From certain simple and well-established premises it has been 

 my purpose to draw reasonable conclusions, which in recapitulation 

 may briefly be stated as follows : — ■ 



First, That the foundation of the Peninsula enclosing the har- 

 bour may be attributed in its early stages to the debris of the 

 country traversed by the Don, in conjunction with a drift from 

 an ancient promontory at Scarboro'. 



Second, That the drift from Scarboro' has supplied and gradu- 

 ally deposited the main part if not the whole of the materials 

 composing the more recent portions of the formation. 



Third, That the drift is in consequence of the singular pro- 

 gressive action given to sand and gravel beaches under certain 

 circumstances by the waves. 



Fourth, That the harbour is daily being impaired b]- its chief 

 agent of formation, and that its only entrance is threatened with 

 early destruction by the same cause. 



Fifth, That its preservation may be permanently effected by 

 the construction of groynes at well selected points. 



Sixth, That the dangers to be feared from the silt of the Don 

 and sewage of the city although remote, would, taken in conjunc- 

 tion with the increasing deleterious effects of the latter on the water 

 of the harbour warrant their total exclusion. 



Seventh, That the construction of a south-eastern entrance 

 would be a great accommodation to the shipping, may improve 

 the purity of the Bay water, and, if properly executed, have no 

 effect in lessening its depth ; but would only assist in the preser- 

 vation of the harbour so far as its piers, acting as groynes might 

 retard the sand, widen the narrows, and thus strengthen the weak 

 point of the Peninsula. 



Although the preventive and remedial measures are founded 

 on what I believe to be correct deductions, yet, seeing that they 

 differ materially from those advanced by others who have con- 

 sidered the subject, they are presented on that account with some 

 degree of timidity. I purpose, however, with the view of either 

 confirming or modifying the conclusions arrived at, to continue a 

 series of observations, carefully noting the various changes going 

 on ; and will if deemed worthy, take much pleasure in laying the 

 results of such observations before the Institute at a future, time. 



Mean results of Meteorological Observations* made at St* 



Martin* Isle Jesus, Canada East* (nine miles west of 



Montreal) for 1S53. 



BY CHARLES SMALLWOOD, M. D. 



(The geographical co-ordinates of the place are 45° 32' N. Lai., and 

 73° 36' W. Long. Height above the level of the sea, 118 feet.) 



Barometric Pressure. — The readings of the barometer are 

 all corrected for capillarity, and reduced to 32° F. The means 

 are obtained from the three daily observations, taken at 6 a.m., 

 2 p.m., and at 10 p.m. 



The mean height of the barometer in January was 29757 

 inches, in February 29-654, in March 29-584, in April 29-654, 

 in May 29-644, in June 29-648, in July 29-479, in August 

 29.598, in September 29-325, in October 29-500, in November 

 29-637, and December 29-456 inches. The highest reading 

 was on the 28th of January, and indicated 30-382 inches; the 

 lowest was also in January, on the 24th day, and was 28-638 

 inches; the yearly mean was 29-578 inches, the mean yearly 

 range was equal to 0-993 inches. The atmospheric wave of 

 November was marked by its usual fluctuations, the final trough 

 terminated on the 30th day. 



Thermometer. — The mean temperature of the air, by the 

 standard thermometer, was in January 16°-68, in February 

 16°-36, in March 29°-68, in April 41°-36, in May 56°-34, in 

 June 68°-66, in July 68°-04, in August 68°-61, in September 

 58°-04, in October 43°-37, in November 31°-00, in December 

 16°-57. The hio-hest reading- of the maximum thermometer 

 was on the 16th of June, and marked 99°-2 ; the lowest reading 

 of the minimum thermometer was on the 27th of January, and 

 was — 28° - 7 (below zero). The mean temperature of the 

 quarterly periods was Winter 19°-22, Spring 42°-46, Summer 

 68°-43, Autumn 44°-10. The yearly mean was 42°-89, and the 

 mean yearly range 59°-27. The greatest intensity of the sun's 

 rays was in August, and indicated 143°-6, the least intensity 

 was in January, and was 64°-0, and the lowest point of ter- 

 restrial radiations was — 22°-l (below zero) in December. 



The mean humidity (staturation being 1-000) was, in January 

 .909, in February -906, in March -881, in April -858, in May 

 •895, in June -739, in July -727, in August -741, in September 

 ■834, in October, -855, in November -798, in December. -759. 

 The yearly mean was -825. 



Rain fell on 99 days, amounting to 44-201 inches and was 

 accompanied by thunder and lightning on 17 days. The 

 greatest amount of rain which I observed, fell in September; it 

 commenced at 5-10 p.m., on the 14th, and continued until 5-40 

 p.m., on the 15th and amounted to 5-142 inches. I have 

 only observed once, this year, a yellow matter fall with the rain, 

 and that was on the 24ih day of September. It was without 

 thunder or lightning, but was accompanied by slight hail. 

 Snow fell on 37 days, amounting to 116-81 inches on the sur- 

 face. The first snow of the winter 1852-3 fell on the 17th day 

 of October, 1852, and the last fell on the 14th day of April, 1S53; 

 the whole amount of snow in the winter 1852-3 amounted to 

 119.10 inches. The river Jesus was frozen on the 28th day 

 of November. The last steamer left Montreal (on the St. Law- 

 rence) on the 7th of December; the first steamer arrived at 

 Montreal on the 15th day of April. The winter fairly set in on 

 the 18th day of December. 



The amount of evaporation was measured regularly from 

 the 1st of April to the 31st of October, and amounted in 



