1882.] 



President's Address. 



313 



dieular ice cliff formed in North Western Europe during the period of 

 maximum glaciation. 



The dredging captures show the same marked difference as had 

 previously been pointed out in the fauna of the two areas ; those in 

 the cold area being of a distinctly Arctic character, and those in the 

 warm area resembling the universally distributed deep-sea fauna of 

 the great oceans. A fair proportion of new species were also found. 



The last trip of the " Triton " took place from Oban, on the 11th 

 September, to the deep water in the Atlantic westward of Ireland. 

 The object of this trip was to get directly a determination of the 

 pressure unit of the gauges employed in testing the "Challenger" 

 thermometers. The original determinations were made indirectly by 

 the help of Amagat's results as to compression of air. The observa- 

 tions taken are not yet reduced, but several successful trials were 

 made at depths of 500, 800, and 1,400 fathoms. 



The subject of the Circumpolar Observations mentioned in my 

 address of last year, was since that time brought more formally 

 before our Government by that of Russia. At the request of the 

 Treasury, the President and Council, after consultation with the 

 Meteorological Office, advised as follows : — 



" The object of the undertaking is to throw light on the influence of 

 the great inaccessible region surrounding the pole on the meteorology 

 and magnetism of the earth. With this view it is proposed to take 

 simultaneous observations at a chain of circumpolar stations for a full 

 year at least. 



" A chain of not less than eight stations will be occupied indepen- 

 dently of any co-operation by this country. This chain, however, 

 leaves a gap of 90° in longitude in the northern part of America, the 

 centre of which would be advantageously occupied by a station in the 

 Dominion of Canada. The value of the results will be greatly en- 

 hanced by the addition of this link to the chain. Independently of 

 this, such a station would be of great value as being of a continental 

 character, in contrast with the other stations, which are in close 

 proximity to the coast. By choosing for the station one of the forts 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company, no great outlay need be involved in 

 its occupation." 



The point first proposed was Fort Good Hope, near the mouth of 

 the Mackenzie River ; but it was found too late to erect the necessary 

 huts and to transport the party and its provisions there during the 

 present season. Fort Simpson, on the same river, was next sug- 

 gested. Guided by considerations of facilities of access and susten- 

 tation, the Committee came to the conclusion that either Fort Rae or 

 Fort Providence, on Great Slave Lake, is to be preferred to Fort 

 Simpson, with which the former forts nearly agree in latitude ; and 

 accordingly the President and Council recommended one of these. 



Y 2 



