673909-1884-Notice-as-to-Meteorological-Signals- — Page 1

SUPPLEMENT

To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 16th August,

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 293.

The following Notice is published for general information.

By Command,

1884.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 16th August, 1884.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

tsui :-

NOTICE.

Meteorological Signals will be hoisted on the mast in front of the Police Barracks at Tsim-sha-

A red drum will be hoisted to indicate the existence of a typhoon somewhere to the East of

the Colony.

A red cone pointing upwards will indicate, that a typhoon exists in a latitude more northern

than the Colony, or, that it is progressing towards North.

A red cone pointing downwards will indicate, that a typhoon exists in a latitude more southern

than the Colony, or, that it is progressing towards South.

A red ball will indicate, that a typhoon exists somewhere to the West of the Colony.

2. For the purpose of giving Storm-warnings to the Colony, a gun has been placed at the foot of the mast facing Victoria. It will be fired once, whenever a strong gale of wind is expected here. It will be fired twice, whenever the wind is expected to blow with typhoon force. And it will be fired again if possible, when the wind is likely to suddenly shift round,-such shifting being frequently accompanied by great disasters to the shipping.

3. In view of the fact, that typhoons-although their area of strong wind and severe weatno is so limited,-determine the prevailing wind and weather a thousand miles or more away, being sur- rounded by a fine-weather area of so great extent, the meteorological signals will enable masters of vessels days beforehand to foresee the weather likely to be encountered in different localities and to understand changes of weather, and their knowledge of the law of storms combined with their practical experience will enable them to shape their course so as to not only avoid the dangerous part of a typhoon, but so as to find out and benefit by favourable winds.

4. The public are supposed to be guided not solely by those signals, but to consult The China Coast Meteorological Register for further particulars. In fact the signals are hoisted to call attention to information contained in that register, as exhibited at the Office of the Great Northern Telegraph Company.

5. The Admirals of the British and Foreign Squadrons in China, and Masters of Vessels trading in these seas having been requested to send in their logs to this Department, whenever they encounter strong wind or bad weather, have cordially responded by forwarding a number of typhoon-logs, which will be invaluable for the future investigation of typhoons.

6. Several Captains have volunteered to keep continuous Meteorological Registers when at sea. and have been supplied with registers of the form now adopted by many of the Commissioners of Customs at the Treaty Ports. These forms may be had on application to this Department, and th typhoon-logs may be obtained from the Harbour Master, who has courteously volunteered to distribute them.

7. Instruments used in observing will be verified at the Observatory if sent there. Aneroi Barometers may be set while in the Harbour by comparison with the data given in The China C Mateorological Register.

Hongkong Observatory. 11th August, 1884.

W. Doberek. Government „Istre.