40 
J. HOPKINSON-THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 
names and addresses of the Secretaries of Committees and others 
from whom fuller particulars may be obtained. 
I have included the Committee on the Rate of Erosion of our 
Sea-Coast, for, although as an inland Society we can render it no 
assistance by local investigation, there are several Societies in 
maritime counties with which we exchange publications* and I 
hope that this communication may induce others besides the 
members of our Society to take up the study of some one or more 
of the subjects mentioned. By so doing they may contribute use¬ 
fully towards the proceedings of their own local Society, and at the 
same time promote the general Advancement of Science by the 
publication of the results of their investigations in the Reports of 
the British Association. 
III. Investigations conducted by Committees oe the British 
Association. 
Committees of the British Association are at work upon the 
following subjects, with respect to which valuable help may be 
given to them by Provincial Scientific Societies. It will be seen 
that many observers, spread oyer the whole country, are required 
for carrying on the investigations for which the Committees are 
appointed. Attention is therefore called to the objects which these 
Committees have in view, and the means by which they hope to 
attain them; but, as the limits of this schedule do not permit of 
the insertion of full particulars of the methods of observation 
employed by the Committees, members of Societies or other observers 
who may be willing to assist them should communicate with the 
Secretaries, to whom reports should be sent. 
It is recommended that observers who are members of provincial 
Societies should also communicate to their own Society the in¬ 
formation they collect. 
1. Temperature of Surface-Water. 
Committee appointed at Bath, 1888. 
Object .—To arrange an investigation of the seasonal variations of 
Temperature in lakes, rivers, and estuaries in various parts of the 
United Kingdom in co-operation with the local Societies represented 
on the Association. 
Secretary., —Dr. H. R. Mill, E.R.S.E., Braid Road, Morning- 
side, Edinburgh. 
The Committee wishes to ascertain the relation between the 
climate and weather of different parts of the country and the 
temperature of the surface-water. This can only be done by the 
co-operation of a large number of observers with instruments of 
the same kind and used in the same manner. Thermometers of a 
special pattern are supplied to observers. The observations should 
he taken at the same hour every day, if possible at 9 a.m., if not, 
at 10 or 12. 
