Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 



1897. 1898. 



Thermometers, clinical 156 173 



ordinary meteorological 38 92 



Sextants 98 106 



Telescopes 66 60 



Binoculars 28 30 



Various 56 26 



Two Standard Thermometers have been constructed during the- 

 year. 



There were at the end of the year in the Observatory, undergoing 

 verification, 7 Barometers, 550 Thermometers, 50 Sextants, 20 

 Telescopes, 59 Binoculars, 2 Hydrometers, 2 Sunsliine Recorders,. 

 5 Rain Measures, and 2 Rain Gauges. 



VI. Ratixg of Watches axd Chroxometees. 



The high standard of excellence to which attention has been drawn 

 in previous Reports has been maintained. Although the number of 

 watches sent for trial this year is less than last year, yet the general 

 average is as good, and 66 movements have obtained the highest 

 possible form of certificate (the class A, especially good), which 

 involves the attainment of 80 per cent, of the total marks. 



The 483 Avatches received were entered for trial as below : — 



For class A, 383 ; class B, 73 ; and 27 for the subsidiary trial. 

 Of these 17 passed the subsidiary test, 116 failed from various causes 

 to gain any certificate, 55 were awarded class B, and 295 class A. 



In Appendix III will be found a table giving the results of trial 

 of the first 50 watches which gained the highest number of marks 

 during the year. The highest place was taken by Mr. S. Yeomans, 

 Coventry, with a keyless going-barrel, Karrusel lever-watch, 

 No. 76,152, which obtained 89*2 marks out of a maximum of 100. 



Representations having been made to the Committee that some 

 changes were desirable in the system of marks and dates on certifi- 

 cates, a circular w r as issued (as mentioned in last year's Report) to 

 ascertain the general opinion of manufacturers and others interested 

 in the matter, but the replies received showed no unanimity of 

 opinion in favour of any one specified change, whilst a considerable 

 number were quite satisfied with the existing conditions. Finally 

 some small alterations were made, mainly in matters of detail. 



The objection to the certificates that sustained most support — 

 though even on this question opinions were fairly divided — was that 

 the date suggested to the customer, in the case of any but the most 

 recently tested watch, a line of criticism that would not naturally have 

 presented itself. In consequence it was urged that the possession of a 



