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Part III. — Thirteenth Annual Report 



which have been described in several publications.* In these experiments 

 metallic spheres were for the most part employed, containing a slip of 

 paper with directions, in eight languages, how to dispose of the sphere 

 when found. The method adopted in the fishery experiments was simple 

 and inexpensive. Small, coarse glass, one ounce bottles were employed, 

 in which a slip of paper was placed having a number and printed directions 

 to return the slip to the Fishery Board with the note of the place where, 

 and the date on which it was found. The cork was dipped in melted 

 paraffin to prevent the admission of water, and it acted admirably for the 

 purpose. It was found that the buoyancy of the bottles was, as a rule, 

 considerable, and that a portion projected above the surface of the water, 

 which might have offered a surface for the action of the winds independent 

 of the currents. In order to avoid this disturbing influence, each bottle 

 before being put into the sea was placed in a pail of sea-water, and a piece 

 of soft lead wire was wound round the neck, sufficient to submerge the 

 whole bottle flush with the surface. In a few cases, owing to the original 

 weight of the bottle, it was necessary to fix on the neck a small piece of 

 cork for the same object. All the bottles were therefore kept flush with 

 the surface, and could only be acted upon by the general movement of 

 the water in which they were immersed — by the currents, and not by the 

 winds. Some of the bottles were also furnished with rubber bands, in 

 order to diminish the risk of breakage : but on consideration of the results 

 t was deemed unnecessary to continue this mode. 



The great majority of the 'drift-bottles,' as they may be termed, were 

 put into the sea by the ' Garland,' either at the trawling stations or at 

 other places ; and a note was kept by Captain Campbell of the position 

 where they were thrown into the sea, the date, the state of the tide, and 

 the direction and force of the wind, as well as of the numbers on the 

 labels. These particulars were recorded in a book, and it was thus a 

 simple matter, on receiving the slips by post, with a note of the place 

 where, and the date on which they were found, to discover the course and 

 distance travelled. Some of the bottles were sent to H.M.S. 'Jackal,' 

 and the late Commander, Lieutenant Wolfe-Murray caused them to be 

 thrown into the sea at Smith Bank, and various parts of the Moray Firth. 

 Others were, through the co-operation of some of the Fishery officers, 

 given to fishermen who put them into the sea at selected places while 

 going to or returning from the offshore fishing-grounds ; and others, 

 through the courtesy of Messrs. James Currie and Co., Leith, were taken 

 charge of by the masters of some of their vessels, trading to the Baltic 

 to be put away at fixed distances from the Scotch Coast. In these 

 tables will be found particulars regarding the experiments, and full 

 details concerning each of the bottles recovered. The experiments began 

 in September last, and continued until May; and of 729 drift-bottles 

 employed, 159, or as nearly as possible 22 per cent, have been up to the 

 present recovered. Considering the fragile nature of the messenger this 

 is a satisfactory result. In some cases the label alone was discovered on 

 the shore ; and there is evidence that bottles were sometimes found, but 

 not returned by those who found them. The condition of the bottle also 

 showed in certain cases that it had been for some time carried to and 

 fro about the shore before being discovered, the edges having been worn 

 by attrition ; the time given in the table does not therefore necessarily 

 indicate the minimum time occupied on the voyage. The messengers 



* Prince Albert de Monaco ' Sur les resultats partiels des deux premieres 

 experiences pour determiner la direction des courants de l'Atlantique Nord,' Comptes 

 rendus, 1 Oth January 1887, and several other numbers ; Ponchet ' Experiences sur 

 les courants de 1' A'lantique Nord faites sous les auspices du Conseil municipal de 

 Paris.' Paris, 1889. 



