F 2
TART
from Koshun in Southern Formosa during the prevalence of typhoons in the neighbourhood of those localities.
9. The thanks of the Government are due to the Telegraph Companies who continue to forward meteorological telegrams from outports to Hongkong free of charge; and also to the staffs of the Eastern Extension and Australasian Telegraph Company at Sharp Peak, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu who make and transmit observations twice daily.
10. During 1908 in addition to meteorological registers kept at 40 stations on shore, 2,344 ship logs have been copied on board or forwarded by the Captains. The total number of vessels whose log books have been made use of was 280. The total number of days observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 20,058. Acknowledgment is here made of the courtesy of those masters of vessels who have been good enough to forward their observations.
11. The entry of observations made at sea in degree squares for the area 9° South and 45° North latitude, and between the longitude of Singapore and 180° East of Greenwich has been continued by Miss Doberek, and during her absence on leave by Mr. Jeffries. The total number of observations entered during the year was 17,361 making a grand total of 342,315 now tabulated in the books. Except in a few localities seldom visited by vessels, the number of observations collected over the area comprised by the China Sea appears now to be sufficient for the construction of trustworthy charts and the tabulations of the results has been commenced.
12. The typhoons of 1908 have been investigated and the tracks laid down by Mr. Plummer. They will be printed and distributed as soon as possible.
A
13. Meteorological instruments forwarded by observers who regularly send their registers to the Observatory are verified here free of cost. During the past year several hundred barometers and aneroids on board ships were compared with our standard. A standard barometer was verified for the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs who intend to use it for the determination of corrections to the barometers at some of the ports and lighthouses in South China.
14. The rainfall in inches recorded by the gauge placed in the Police compound at Taipo, New Territories, was as follows: January 3.78, February 4.06, March 0.61, April 13.46, May 2.35, June 22.35, July 33.59, August 10.46, September 17.14, October 5.43, November 0.15, December 6.31, the total for the year 1908 being 119.69 inches. On an average of the three years during which this gauge has been in operation it is found that the rainfall measured at Taipo exceeds that measured at the Observatory by 21 per cent.
15. In 1908 the number of transits observed was 482. The axis of the transit instrument was levelled 289 times, and the collimation and azimuth errors were determined 23 times by aid of the meridian mark. The whole of these observations have been made by Mr. Plummer, or during his absence on leave by Mr. Jeffries. No alterations have been made in any of the standard clocks, and their going has been, on the whole, satisfactory.
16. The errors of the Time Ball are given in Table I. The ball is not dropped on Sundays nor on Government holidays. It was first dropped on the new site on January 8th. There were three failures in 1908. On April 14th the ball could not be raised above a certain point, and the cause of the stoppage could not be discovered, though a careful examination was made later by the engineer who had charge of the removal of the apparatus from the old tower. It is believed that it is connected with a rise in temperature. On several occasions subsequently the ball gave trouble at the same point but actual stoppage was evaded. On April 16th the ball was not duly lowered on the tooth and on August 17th the ball fell about 26 seconds too early, a contact having been made through the upper springs of the Mean Time clock by insects. On July 28th and 29th communication was interrupted as a result of the typhoon of the previous day. On October 6th and October 10th the ball was not dropped in consequence of gales. It was dropped successfully on 292 days. The probable error was in January ± 0.17, in February ± 0.28, in March ± 0.34, in April ± 0.24, May ± 0.12, in June ± 0.19, in July ± 0.13, in August ± 0.11, in September ± 0°15, in October ± 0.16, in November ± 0'.12 and in December ± 0.17.
17. Special magnetic observations were made in December simultaneously with similar observations made by Mr. D. C. Sowers of the Department of Research in Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution, Washington, for the purpose of comparing instruments. Others have been made by the officers of H.M.S. Merlin and H.M.S. Astræa at various times.
F. G. FIGG, Director.
15th February, 1909.
F 2
TART
from Koshun in Southern Formosa during the prevalence of typhoons in the neighbourhood of those localities.
9. The thanks of the Government are due to the Telegraph Companies who continue to forward meteorological telegrams from outports to Hongkong free of charge; and also to to the staffs of the Eastern Extension and Australasian Telegraph Company at Sharp Peak, Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu who make and transinit observations twice daily.
10. During 1908 in addition to meteorological registers kept at 40 stations on shore. 2,344 ship logs have been copied on board or forwarded by the Captains. The total number of vessels whose log books have been made use of was 280. The total number of days observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 20,058. Acknowledgment is here made of the courtesy of those masters of vessels who have been good enough to forward their observations.
11. The entry of observations made at sea in degree squares for the area 9° South and 45° North latitude, and between the longitude of Singapore and 180° East of Greenwich has been continued by Miss Doberek, and during her absence on leave by Mr. Jeffries. The total number of observations entered during the year was 17,361 making a grand total of 342,315 now tabulated in the hooks. Except in a few localities seldom visited by vessels, the number of observations collected over the area comprised by the China Sea appears now to be sufficient for the construction of trustworthy charts and the tabulations of the results has been commenced.
12. The typhoons of 1908 have been investigated and the tracks laid down by Mr. Plummer. They will be printed and distributed as soon as possible.
A
13. Meteorological instruments forwarded by observers who regularly send their re- gisters to the Observatory are verified here free of cost. During the past year several hundred barometers and aneroids on board ships were compared with our standard. standard barometer was verified for the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs who intend to use it for the determination of corrections to the barometers at some of the ports and lighthouses in South China.
14. The rainfall in inches recorded by the gauge placed in the Police compound at Taipo, New Territories, was as follows: January 3.78, February 4.06, March 0.61, April 13.46, May 2.35, June 22.35, July 33.59, August 10.46, September 17.14, October 5.43, November 0.15, December 6.31, the total for the year 1908 being 119.69 inches. On an average of the three years during which this gauge has been in operation it is found that the rainfall measured at Taipo exceeds that measured at the Observatory by 21 per cent.
15. In 1908 the number of transits observed was 482. The axis of the transit instrument was levelled 289 times, and the collimation and azimuth errors were determined 23 times by aid of the meridian mark. The whole of these observations have been made by Mr. Plummer, or during his absence on leave by Mr. Jeffries. No alterations have been made in any of the standard clocks, and their going has been on the whole, satisfactory.
16. The errors of the Time Ball are given in Table I. The ball is not dropped on Sundays nor on Government holidays. It was first dropped on the new site on January 8th. There were three failures in 1908. On April 14th the ball could not be raised above a certain point, and the cause of the stoppage could not be discovered, though a careful examination was made later by the engineer who had charge of the removal of the apparatus from the old tower. It is believed that it is connected with a rise in temperature. On several occasions subsequently the ball gave trouble at the same point but actual stoppage was evaded. On April 16th the ball was not duly lowered on the tooth and on August 17th the ball fell about 26 seconds too early, a contact having been made through the upper springs of the Mean Time clock by insects. On July 28th and 29th communication was interrupted as a result of the typhoon of the previous day. On October 6th and October 10th the ball was not dropped in consequence of gales. It was dropped successfully on 292 days. The probable error was in January ± 0.17, in February ± 0.28, in March ± 0.34, in April ± 0.24, May ± 0.12, in June ± 0.19, in July ± 0.13, in August ± 0.11, in September ± 0°15, in October ± 0.16, in November 0'.12 aud in December± 0.17.
17. Special magnetic observations were made in December simultaneously with similar observations made by Mr. D. C. Sowers of the Department of Research in Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution, Washington, for the purpose of comparing instruments. Others have been made by the officers of II.M.S. Merlin and H.M.S. Astræa at various times.
F. G. FIGG, Director.
15th February, 1909.
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