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THE CLIMATE OF EAST LONDON, CAPE COLONY. 



By J. E. Sutton, M.A., F.B.Met.S. 



(Bead October 25, 1905.) 



This paper is a brief summary and discussion of the meteorological 

 observations made at the West Bank, East London, during the 

 21 years 1884-1904, under the direction of the Harbour Board. 

 My object in undertaking the work is chiefly to amplify the results 

 obtained in some of my previous papers dealing with the meteorology 

 of the table-land of South Africa. 



Speaking generally, the material made use of here is not of the 

 best — not nearly so good as that available for Kimberley (G. J. Lee), 

 or for Durban. The observing hour seems to have been altered 

 once or twice to one side or the other of 8 a.m., and also the manner 

 of taking the readings. The observers have varied much in ability ; 

 and there is, unfortunately, considerable evidence that some of them 

 regarded the work of reading the instruments as irksome, and did it 

 in the most perfunctory manner. In computing the averages I have 

 not hesitated to reject all the readings which show signs of negli- 

 gence. Whole months, occasionally, defy explanation, and these 

 have been rejected altogether. For instance, ten consecutive days 

 are given below as a specimen of how meteorological observations 

 ought not to be taken. It is an extract from one of the rejected 

 months, giving the dry and wet bulbs at the hour of observation, the 

 reading of the maximum and minimum air temperatures for the 

 preceding 24 hours, and the readings of the maximum and minimum 

 thermometers when reset at the hour of observation. The dates are 

 purposely omitted : — 



Hygrometer. 



Preceding 24 Hours. 



Beset. 



Dry Bulb. 



Wet Bulb. 



M. 



m. 



M. 



m. 



48° 



44° 



68° 



42° 



62° 



47° 



49 



45 



67 



57 



43 



59 



50 



50 



71 



48 



66 



52 



50 



50 



70 



50 



43 



50 



51 



51 



73 



64 



50 



66 



50 



49 



68 



51 



44 



54 



60 



60 



70 



61 



45 



62 



57 



52 



67 



51 



49 



51 



61 



61 



68 



60 



51 



60 



50 



52 



68 



56 



46 



58 



15 



