32 H. C. RUSSELL. 



The tabular statement is most instructive, and it is to be 

 regretted that we have so few papers ; with more papers it would 

 be possible to eliminate the effect of uncertainty in the date when 

 the papers actually landed. In 1900, five papers were set afloat, 

 one of these belong to section Lat. S. to 10, another landed on a 

 small island near Madagascar, shewing a rate of only 7*4, no 

 doubt a case of delay in finding, and three others set afloat near the 

 Cocos Island landed on Africa, shewing rates 18*3 miles, 20*6 

 miles, and 25-4 miles ; extraordinary rates, and interesting in 

 comparison with the paper that went from Cape Horn to 

 Ashantee in the same year. 25*4 miles per day is, so far, the 

 record drift with me; but all the drifts are rapid in latitude 10° 

 to 33° south, in the Indian Ocean. " Referring to tabular list." 

 Taking the average rates from Equator to 10° south the drift is 

 133 miles per day, mean of six papers ; and the greatest 15*6 

 miles was in 1900, and the lowest rate 10*9 miles. 



From 10° to 33° south 11 papers have been found in seven 

 years, and the greatest daily drift is already mentioned, 25*4 

 miles per day, in 1900 ; and the average rate of the seven papers 

 16-6 miles per day. From latitude 33° to 43° south: — the aver- 

 age rate of drift per day in this section is 7-6 miles, and here the 

 greatest rate of drift was in 1899 not 1900. Again in section 43° 

 to 50° S., the greatest rate 12*3 miles per day was also in 1899. 

 These facts are extremely suggestive and it is to be hoped that 

 many more captains may take up the work. What we do know 

 is very instructive. What we may know by increased effort will, 

 I am sure, be most valuable both to commerce and science. 



Months in which the Current Papers were found. 



1899. 



1900. 



Total 

 100 



Oct. 



Nov. 



Dec. 



Jan. 



Feb. 



March 



April 



May 



une 



July 



. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



4 



5 



8 



10 



14 



9 



10 



6 



7 



6 



6 



8 



7 



1896 — December 11 current papers, greatest v -in one month. 

 1897— May 10 



