INDIAN METEOROLOGY. 305 



(IV.) The extension of the existing system of collecting meteoro- 

 logical information from the captains of vessels navigating the 

 Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The necessity for the extension 

 of the work of observation in this direction had been long recognised. 

 It is absolutely essential for the investigation of the causes of the 

 origin of cyclonic storms. Hitherto information had been mainly 

 sought of the weather during cyclones, but not of the antecedent 

 weather and conditions which led up to and originated these storms. 

 Information of the weather in the Indian Seas is even more 

 necessary in dealing with the causes which affect the strength of 

 the great rain-giving currents of the south-west monsoon. These 

 currents advance from the sea into India, and their strength and 

 variations of strength probably depend as much upon conditions 

 in the sea area from which they advance as in the land area of 

 India itself. It was hence necessary that observations of the weather 

 in the sea area should be collected as regularly and systematically 

 as for the land area. 



(V.) The introduction of arrangements for the collection of 

 special observations during storms, and the recognition of these 

 observations as part of the duties of observers by special payments 

 for these observations. The work of observation with regard to 

 storms had been previously very defective. It was recognised in the 

 rules drawn up many years before by Mr. Blanford for the guidance 

 of observers that it was part of their duties to take frequent 

 observations during storms but they neither received any pay for 

 this special work, nor was any deduction made from their pay, if 

 they neglected the duty of taking these observations. It was hence 

 voluntary unpaid work, and as its performance was attended with 

 much physical discomfort, it was almost entirely neglected. As, 

 however, storms form on the whole the most important feature 

 of the weather, the registration of meteorological observations 

 during their existence was clearly as absolutely essential as of the 

 regular observations. 



(VI.) The introduction of arrangements for the utilisation of 

 the services of duly cpialified scientists in Europe for the discussion 

 of some of the more important series of observations which have 

 accumulated in the Calcutta Office during the past 13 years. 

 This was rendered necessary by the great increase of work 

 thrown nu to the Simla and Calcutta Offices. Among several 



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