1. INTRODUCTION 
The Great Lakes are undoubtedly the most important single source of 
fresh water in the world. Their waters are utilized for numerous economic 
needs, such as commercial and sport fishing, power generation, municipal 
water supplies, industrial uses, recreation, and navigation. In line with 
this high degree of economic importance, the Great Lakes are now and will 
most likely continue to be the subjects of various scientific studies and 
investigations, carried out with a view toward obtaining a more lucid un- 
derstanding of their physical, chemical, and biological properties and 
mechanisms. In conjunction with studies such as these, personnel of the 
Great Lakes Fisheries Investigations suggested that a great deal of lim- 
nological and meteorological information relative to the Lakes and their 
drainage basins would likely be available from agencies in both the United 
States and Canada. Likely sources would be those which routinely make use 
of raw lake water, such as municipal water treatment plants, disposal 
plants, power plants, and industries. In addition, it was believed that 
data might also be obtained from various governmental agencies--federal, 
state, and provincial. Parameters which might possibly be located were 
thought to include water temperature, turbidity, pH, color, and odor; 
chemical analyses of water; biological analyses, such as bacterial and 
plankton counts; water level; lake surface condition; and numerous me- 
teorological observations, such as air temperature, precipitation, wind 
speed and direction, humidity, radiation, evaporation, pressure, visi- 
bility, and cloud cover. 
Up to the present time little was known specifically about the 
availability, reliability, and extent of any data such as those enumer- 
ated above. In addition, data would likely be widely scattered and hence 
of little practical use to anyone interested in utilizing the contained 
information. It became apparent, therefore, that the location and eva- 
luation of these collateral data should become the object of a special study. 
It was proposed that the execution of such a study could best be 
accomplished in three phases, with the exact nature and extent of each 
succeeding phase governed by findings of the preceding one. Phase I 
would be designed to locate and determine the extent of records in the 
Great Lakes area that might be useful in developing a better understand- 
ing of Great Lakes hydrography. Phase II would involve a pilot study in 
a selected section of the Great Lakes in which all available data would 
be examined to determine the reliability and usefulness of the various 
types of records. In Phase III all records demonstrated by Phase II to be 
of value in hydrographic and biological studies of the Great Lakes would 
be accumulated over a period determined by the completeness and con- 
gruity of data, and recorded in a form suitable for easy reference and use 
in future studies. 
Phase I was undertaken by the Great Lakes Research Institute during 
the past fiscal year, and is the subject of the present report. 
Many persons, institutions, and agencies have been of immeasurable 
aid in the successful conduct of this investigation. The investigators 
wish to gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance and whole- 
hearted cooperation of the following persons who, in various ways, were 
instrumental in helping locate sources of meteorological and hydrographic 
data: Dr. James W. Moffett, Chief, Great Lakes Fishery Investigations, U. 
S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Dr. Stanford H. Smith, 
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