34 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



weather than the meteorologists of Europe. The storms in our lati- 

 tude generally move from west to east, and, since our seaboard is on 

 the eastern side of a great continent, we can have information of the 

 approaching storm while it is still hundreds of miles to the west of us. 

 Not so with the meteorologists of Europe, since they reside on the 

 western side of a continent, and can have no telegraphic dispatches 

 from the ocean. The proposition, however, to furnish constant 

 information of this kind could not be carried out by the limited 

 means of the Smithsonian Institution, and, indeed, can only be 

 rendered properly and fully serviceable under the direction and at the 

 expense of the government. 



New and interesting features have been introduced into the daily 

 meteorological bulletin published by the Imperial Observatory at 

 Paris. As mentioned in the last report, these bulletins are litho- 

 graphed each day from records of the barometer, thermometer, wind, 

 and face of the sky, compiled from telegraphic reports transmitted to 

 the observatory from various parts of Europe. In addition to these, 

 they now contain daily a small outline chart of Europe upon which 

 are drawn diagrams showing the barometric curve of the day through 

 the various stations, together with the temperature and direction and 

 force of the wind. For the use of vessels about to leave port, a state- 

 ment is also given of what will probably be the direction of the Avind 

 the next day. Chambers of commerce and intelligent seamen have 

 acknowledged in strong language the benefit of these daily bulletins, 

 thus adding to the ever-accumulating testimony in favor not only of 

 the speculative interest but also practical benefits of meteorology. 

 At Bordeaux, Havre, and other important ports, as soon as the bul- 

 letins are received, the telegraphic announcement of the weather and 

 the probable direction of wind for the following day are posted in 

 public places and furnished to the principal newspapers for publica- 

 tion. The bulletin also contains extracts from the correspondents of 

 the observatory on astronomical and other subjects as well as meteo- 

 rology. With the number for December 20, a supplement was issued 

 with a diagram exhibiting the indications of the self-registering instru- 

 ments at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, during the great storm 

 on the English coast in the first three days of December, 18G3. 



Laboratory. — The principal work which has been done in the 

 laboratory during the past year is an extended series of experiments 

 on the properties of different kinds of oil intended for light-house 

 purposes. For a number of years past the price of sperm oil has 

 been constantly increasing, and from a dollar per gallon it had ad- 



