WATER-SPOUTS ON THE COAST OF N. S. WALES. 133 



was estimated to be thirty times as high as a clipper-ship, say 

 5,000 feet. When first seen it was in the north-east distant about 

 eight miles, and it drifted rapidly to south-west until it was only 

 three or four miles from the coast, and then suddenly disappeared. 



The experience of Mr. D. R. Crichton, Mining Engineer, who 

 observed these water-spouts is unique, for he, as appears in the 

 following account of the occurrence, was able to watch carefully 

 through the telescope of his theodolite eight of the water-spouts, 

 what he saw is best described in his own words, as follows : — " I 

 had the opportunity of observing this most unusual phenomenon 

 of such a large number of water-spouts at one time. While look- 

 ing at the first one the idea struck me of putting up my theodolite 

 for observation, and by the time I had got it set up and adjusted, 

 the nearest and largest water-spout disappeared. At the time 

 the intention was to make measures for my own information; had 

 I known that you wanted them, I would have taken more obser- 

 vations. Since I received your letter I have gone carefully over 

 my notes and worked out the results, which I have much pleasure 

 in sending to you. 



"There were fourteen clear and distinct water-spouts, i.e., reach- 

 ing from clouds to sea, commencing at 10*45 a.m. Plate 2 was 

 made from an oil painting by Mr. A. J. Nicholson of Eden, and 

 shews four out of the twenty water-spouts that were seen at 

 Eden, New South Wales, Latitude 37° South. The first one 

 was approximately eight miles off the shore, and the others came 

 at intervals afterwards, each one a little farther from the land ; 

 the last one that was distinctly visible was about thirty miles 

 from the shore at 3-50 p.m. There appeared a few broken 

 columns for an hour afterwards, but they were hazy and indis- 

 tinct. The weather all the time was calm and there was no sea. 

 The one I measured with the theodolite was the second and largest 

 one, and the nearest to the land. I have computed the distance 

 at nearly eight nautical miles from where the theodolite was 

 standing in Imley-street, Eden. The height above the sea of the 

 top of the inverted cone, i.e. to top of this water-spout was 5,014 



