478 METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1871, BY THE 



Salmon were more plentiful than usual in the Tees, owing to 

 frequent freshes in the river. The fish were thus tempted to 

 leave the sea, and the fishermen had more than an average 

 season. 



It was a grand season for young plantations, and seldom have 

 the young trees made such rapid and healthy growth. 



Solar Halos were seen at Wallington on the 12th, 25th, and 

 30th ; at Sunderland on the 25th. Lunar Halos were seen at 

 Wallington on the 6th, 22nd, 24th, and 29th ; at North Shields 

 on the 23rd ; at Sunderland on the 24th and 27th. Thunder- 

 storms occurred at Saughtree on the 20th ; at North Sunderland 

 on the 1st and 3rd ; at Rothbury on the 4th ; at North Shields 

 on the 3rd ; at Greta Bridge on the 4th and 20th. Snow fell 

 at Wallington on the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 20th, and 

 22nd; at Cresswell on the lst-7th; at Meldon on the 2nd-4th, 

 6th-8th, 20th, and 22nd ; at Darlington on the 3rd, 4th, 20th, 

 and 27th ; at Acklam on the 1st and 4th. Aurora Boeeales 

 were seen at Wallington on the 9th ; at Allenheads on the 9th ; 

 at Sunderland on the 9th and 30th. Hail fell at Whitley on 

 the 1st and 18th ; at Acklam on the 1st. 



Smallpox continued very prevalent during the last quarter of 

 1871. The Registrar General remarks that "The mining dis- 

 tricts of the Northern Counties have been one of the most fatal 

 smallpox fields since the outbreak of the epidemic ; during the 

 four quarters of 1871 the deaths from this cause were respec- 

 tively 463, 1069, 1566, 1546, or 4644 for the whole year. The 

 number showed a slight decline during the last quarter of the 

 year in Durham, but the considerable decrease both in Sunder- 

 land and Newcastle was more than balanced by -a large increase 

 in Auckland, Easington, and Tynemouth. 



It is well known that among the lower classes in Holland a 

 very strong prejudice exists against vaccination. It may be 

 useful to enquire what might be the result in London if preju- 

 dice against vaccination should ever become as widely spread 

 as in Holland. If the same death-rate from small pox had 



