94 E. T. Quayle: 



1889 to 1893, giving a total *'run-off" rain of 31.0 inches. This 

 was followed by a long dry spell of 12 years, 1894 to 1905, giving 

 only 15-i inches altogether. The drought ended in 1902, but the 

 *''run-oflf'' rains for 1903 to 1905 were small, only totalling 6.0 

 inches. From 1906 to 1910, a wet period, the ''run-off" was 

 2i|^ inches; from 1911 to 1915, a very dry five-year period, only 

 2.4 inches; from 1916 to 1917, two very wet years, 15.7 inches; 

 from 1918-1919, only 1.4 inches, and during 1920, and up till 

 May, 1921, a very wet period, 17.0 inches. The lake should,, 

 therefore, have been large in 1894, and, say, 1895, in 1911 and 

 1912, and in 1918 and 1919. At the present time it should contain 

 more water than at any time "within the memory of the oldest 

 inhabitant." 



Droughts Minimised by Evaporation from Lakes. 



In order to see if the records tend to confirm the theory that 

 the evaporation from Lake Torrens is a large factor in bringing 

 about the improved rainfall tO' south-east, or in lee of it, and 

 between the lake and, say, Wentworth and Mildura, I tabulated 

 the annual rainfalls at ten of the principal stations in this area, 

 as well as at five to southwards, where no improvement is 

 evident, and of five to northwards beyond the influence of Lakes 

 Torrens and Frome as rain producers. The first (Group A} 

 consists of Hawker, Warcowie, Holowiliena, Wilson, Belton,. 

 Paratoo, Yunta, Cavenagh, Johnburgh and Waukaringa; the 

 second (Group B) of Port Augusta, Quorn, Wilmington, Arden 

 Vale and Port Germein ; the third (Group C) of BHnman, Bel- 

 tana, Mt. Lyndhurst, Leigh's Creek and Wooltana. The per- 

 centage departures from the average rainfall during the years 

 following periods of lake water accumulation were as tollow : 





1894 



1895 



1911 



1912 



1918 



1919 



Group A. 



- +19 



. - 4 



- + 7 



- +13 



- + 2 



- +12 



,, B. 



- + 2 



- -18 



- -23 



- +10 



- -19 



- - 3 



„ C. 



- + 1 



- +13 



- - 3 



- -16 



- -25 



- -22 



These figures show the apparent advantage to Group A from 

 lake evaporation to be very marked, and they also show that the 

 gain so striking during the decade 1910-1919 could not be 

 attributed to the accidental excesses of wet years. The fact that 

 owing to its position. Group B should have the most reliable 

 rainfall gives the comparison additional significance. 



