METEOROLOGY. 21 



METEOROLOGT. 



The climate of the Commander Islands, in spite of their vicinity to Kamchatka, is 

 not particularly severe, but the excessive moisture and the low summer temperature 

 make it rather disagreeable, though by no means unhealthy. The chief interest 

 centers in the temperature, the moisture, precipitation, and cloudiness for the months of 

 May to November inclusive, during which time the fur seals stay on the islands. But^ 

 as the meteorological observations made on the islands have never been published in 

 full or collectively, I have appended a set of tables of the monthly means for the four 

 years during which the United States Signal Service maintained a station at Mkolski, 

 Bering Island. 



One of the objects of my trip to the Commander Islands in 1882 was to establish 

 meteorological stations there and in Petropaulski. The village at Copper Island was 

 found unsuitable for the purpose and no regular observations were taken there. At 

 Nikolski, however, I established and maintained during my enti,re stay a three-daily 

 station, beginning May 22, 1882. During my sojourn there I trained the late Mr. George 

 Cheruick, agent of Hutchinson, Kohl, Philippeus & Co., in the use of the instruments, 

 so that whenever I was absent from the station exploring, collecting, or investigating 

 the rookeries, he took the observations. At my departure he was appointed a United 

 States Signal Service observer, whose duties he conscientiously fulfilled until his 

 resignation in April, 1886, at which time the station was abandoned. 



The observations were taken simultaneously v.'ith those in Washington, D. C, viz, 

 at 7 a. m., 3 p. m., and 11 p. m., Washington time, or, respectively, 11.12 p. m., 7.12 a. m., 

 and 3.12 p. m., local time. 



The instruments used were as follows : 



A mercurial barometer, United States Signal 



Service, No. 1837. 

 An exposed thermometer, No. 939. 

 A minimum thermometer, No. 648. 

 A maximum thermometer, after June, 1883. 



A wet-bulb thermometer, for determining the 



relative humidity, after June, 1883. 

 A Eobertson's anemometer. 

 A wind vane, belonging on the island. 

 A Signal'Service standard rain gauge. 



The barometer cistern was 20 feet above sea level. 



The thermometers were hung in a large lattice box on the north side of my house, 

 the box covering the window; and the instruments were read through the latter from 

 the Inside. 



The rain gauge' had to be located very high (9 feet) and in an exposed place to 

 keep it from the marauding sledge dogs. This instrument was not satisfactory in a 

 high wind. The wind in blowing across the mouth of the funnel would actually suck 

 the air out of the latter, thus preventing the rain or snow from entering. Many a 

 time after a considerable rain I have found the rain gauge dry inside. The actual 

 amount of precipitation is therefore greater than shown in the table given below, 

 though the figures in the latter may serve for comparison with those from similar 

 localities in the United States, particularly on the Pribilof Islands and in Alaska, 

 where the same kind of rain gauge was in use. 



The following tables I have transcribed directly from the original records. The 

 monthly means are those of the means of the three daily observations. The method 

 of observing, correcting, and tabulating is that in vogue in tlie Signal Service, and the 

 figures are strictly comparable with those of the other stations of the same service. 



'Report Chief Sig. Off. 1887, ii, p. 382, pi. xxxvi, fig. 97. 



