530 
DKS. T. ANDERSON AND J. S. FLETT ON THE ERUPTIONS OF THE 
of Montague Pelee. On May 8th the first phenomenon observed at Fort de France 
was a recession of the sea ; it was followed by a considerable rise, and at intervals of 
several minutes minor oscillations succeeded the princij^al one to the number of five 
or six. In St. Pierre and in Carbet these waves have invaded the land and done 
considerable damage, especially on the morning of the great eruption (8th i\Iay), 
when the wave at Carbet was esthnated to have an amplitude of nearly 7 feet 
(2 metres). This wave was not observed at Guadeloupe, though that of the previous 
afternoon, attendant on the eruption of the Soufriere, was clearly visible there.'" 
The most remarkable feature of these sea waves is that they have never been 
observed in St. Vincent, even oil the afternoon of May 7th, when many people along 
the leeward coast of the island were embarking in boats or landing on the shore at 
the moment of the climax of the eruption. They cannot certainly have taken place 
on so large a scale as at St. Pierre, as in Chateaubelair many huts stand on the low 
lieach but little above high-water mark, and none of them ivas destroyed or damaged. 
Yet the wave originated by this outburst was felt in Guadeloupe and in Barbados. 
To some extent these waves may have been caused by the sudden increase in 
atmospheric pressure which started the air wave, but this cannot have been a very 
important factor in their production, as there is no reason to believe that the rise of 
the •barometer was in any case more than a quarter of an inch. 
They may also be partly a result of the concussion or shock which was occasioned 
by the great explosion, and may in this way partake of the nature ofearthquake 
waves. ” 
Our knowledge of the extent and magnitude of the changes which have taken 
place on the sea bottom around the Windward Islands is at present unsatisfactory. 
It may be regarded as highly probable that the loose material lying on the steep 
submarine slopes on both sides of the islands has been set in motion, and has slipped 
downwards over considerable areas. The subsidence at Wallibu can hardly be the 
onl}?- case in which this has occurred. Interesting evidence on this point is given 
in a letter by Mr. C. B. Cruickshank to Professor John Milne, F.E.S., from 
which we take the following ;— 
“ I regret exceedingly that the amount of information which I can give you as to changes in ocean 
depths off Martinique and St. Vincent is practically nil. 
“ During the time I was out in the West Indies after the eruptions we did not attempt to tackle an}^ 
repairs off Martinique. The greater part of the time was occupied with cables off’ St. Vincent, and the 
first cable we tackled was one which was laid in 1898. As no soundings were taken in this line before 
the laying of the cable, and this was the first break that had occurred, it is difficidt to say whether or 
not the depths were changed. 
“ As to the other cable, the one between St. Lucia and St. Vincent, we found no great alteration in the 
soundings, and what little difference we did find may have been due to errors in taking the soundings, for 
we had very strong currents to contend with, making accurate sounding difficult. 
* ‘ Comptes Rendus,’ vol. cxxxv., p. 390. 
