1878.] Observations in tlie Gulf of CutcJi. 51 



necessity, without whicli no permanent record of the changes of ground in 

 the different harbours of the coast can be kept up. 



" 2. The advantages to be expected from well-considered and carefully 

 conducted observations of the tides are mainly the following : 



" (1) They enable standards to be fixed for the purposes of survey. 

 " (2) They afford data for the calculation of the rise and fall of the 



tides, and thus subserve the purposes of navigation. 

 " (3) They are of scientific interest apart from their practical useful- 

 ness as stated above. 

 " The first two of these advantages are of strictly local bearing : an 

 accurate survey of a port is essential to the safety of the shi^^ping frequent- 

 ing it, and correct tide-tables are necessary for the convenience of navi- 

 gators and for engineering purposes within the port itself. 



" 3. The Governor General in Council is of opinion that, in view of 

 these considerations, every port where a tide-gauge is set up should pay for 

 its establishment and maintenance from port funds. The third object, the 

 scientific results to be expected from the record, will be sufficiently provided 

 for by the appointment by the Government of India of one of its own officers 

 to supervise and control the local observations, and to arrange for their utili- 

 zation to the utmost extent possible. The charges will thus be divided in a 

 manner appropriate to the advantages to be secured. 



" 4. His Excellency in Council accordingly resolves to entrust the 

 general superintendence and control of tidal observations upon Indian coasts 

 to Captain Baird, R. E., Deputy Superintendent in the Great Trigono- 

 metrical Survey Department, who will be guided in his operations by the 

 orders and advice of the head of that Department. This will involve no 

 new charge upon Imperial Funds, for Captain Baird has for some years past 

 been engaged upon observations of this nature in the Gulf of Cutch and in 

 reduction of the observations in England : the work is of a nature which 

 properly falls within the scope of the operations of the Great Trigono- 

 metrical Survey ; and the object of the present change is merely to provide 

 for its extension and systematization under an undivided control. Captain 

 Baird will thus remain a member of the Department, and his operations 

 will form one of the subjects to be treated by the Superintendent in his 

 annual report. 



" 5. The first duty of the Superintendent will be to instruct Captain 

 Baird to determine, in communication with the Governments of the mari- 

 time provinces, the ^^oi^its where observations should be carried out. The 

 necessary gauges (where these do not already exist) will then have to be 

 provided from port funds, and the establishments entertained under the 

 sanction of the Local Governments. It will probably be most convenient 

 that all Captain Baird' s communications with the establishments in charge 



