52 
From the bottom of the receiver is projected a right cone, 
hollow from below, which constitutes its floor, so that the 
rain collected in it will lie in the space between the cone 
and the enclosing cylinder. 
The gauge can be easily taken off the pivot out of the 
box for the purpose of emptying its contents for measure- 
ment and replaced by the pins sliding down the slots on 
each side. 
The box is square, and is broad enough and high enough 
to allow of the swinging of the gauge, and is provided with 
a lid on the open top, which secures the instrument from 
injury, and will close any further use of the gauge. 
The floor of the box is perforated with holes to permit of 
the drainage of the rain falling down into it, and has handles 
at the sides for carriage, and a canvas cover. The con- 
tents of the receiver may be emptied, after disconnecting 
the collector on the top, and measured by the usual glass 
measure graduated to parts of inches of rainfall. 
The box can be set down anywhere on the deck, as far as 
possible out of reach of any sea-spray, or secured on the 
bridge of steamers or the tops of sailing vessels, and left 
there for the collection of rain. 
In the event of the admission of sea-spray with the rain, 
which is found uncommon in practice, it would be necessary 
to take the specific gravity of the mixture in the glass 
measure by the hydrometer, and thus find out the amount 
of each. 
This gauge has now been experimented upon in several 
ships of the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine, and found 
to answer perfectly, and the results as far as ascertained 
will be communicated. 
The collection of rain at sea is found to be better carried 
on on board steamers than sailing vessels, &c., as there is in 
them less impediment by the sails, less rolling in motion, 
and more independence of the wind. There is very little 
