RETURN OF THE "GALILEE" AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SPECIAL VESSEL.

]By L. A. BAu•z•t, fPD eclo•'. The yacht "Galilee" chartered by the Department Terrestrial 5Iag- netism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, for the purpose of a general or preliminary magnetic survey of tl•e Pacific Ocean, returned to her home port, San Francisco, , on May 22, after an absenteeof nearly tt•ree years, during which she has cruised in the Pacific Ocean to the extent of about 65,ooo nautical miles. After completing at San Francisco various swings and observations, she left on August 4, •9o5, for a trial cruise to San Diego, California, under the writer's direction for the purpose of completing the necessary training of the observers and perfecting the ninthotis of observation. The vessel next proceededto Honolulu and Fanning Island, returning to San Diego, California, in December, x9o5. Captain J. F. Pratt of the United States Coast and Geodetic Surx'ey con•manded the vessel in •9o5. Upon the expiration of his furlough, 5rr. •V. J. Peters, chief mag•etic observer of the Department Terrestrial Magnetism, assumed command and carried out the balance of the cruises up to the return to San

Francisco in a most satisfactory - manner. During the period m9o6-8,tim vessel visited the following ports: Fanning Island, , (•9o6 and •9o7), , Ja!iut (liarshall Ids., •9o6 and •9o7), , \'okohama, San Diego, Nukahiva (Marquesas Ids.), , Yap (Caroline Ids., •9o7), , Sitka, Honolulu (•9o7), Lyttleton (), Callao (), and San Frm•cisco. It is thus seen that she has cruised over the greater part of the Pacific Ocean and especially in those reg'ions where magnetic data (at least of all three magnetic elements) were very scarce. tlence a general, or preliminary. magnetic survey of these regions, has been now completed. Owing to the harmonious co-operation between the Office and the Vessel, and becauseof the •nethods pursued, this entire work has pro- gressedwitl• scarcelya hitcl• in the program set. It is the full expecta- tation that the results achieved will be ready for publication towards the close of the year. What is furthermore a cause of satisfaction, though the vessel(an all-sailing one) in some of her lengthy cruises was at tinms beset by severe storms and exposed to imminent danger, she met with but one accident, viz., when she was dashed by a typhoon against the breakwater at Yokolmma, in August, •9o6, and was sunk in about •4 feet of water. But, as n•ay be recalled, ten days after this accident she again 63 set sail for a long cruise to San Diego. The expedition has not a single loss of life to record in her personneland crew throughout the period. Besides those mentioned, share in the success of the work is due to the sailing master, John T. Hayes, and to tim magnetic observers and surgeonsassigned to the vessel at various times, viz.: 5lessrs. J.P. Ault, P. H. Dike, J. H. Egbert, J. C. Pearson, H. E. 5[artyn, G. Peterson, D.C. Sowers, and P. Whitney, as also to Sir. G. W. Littlehales, consult- ing hydrographer,and to 5It. J. A. Fleming, in charge of office com- putations. T/•e •rcm Vcsxel. The necessa• experiencehavi•g now been gained as to ttxe require- ments of ocean magnetic work for the nmst expeditious and most successfulaccomplishment, it was deemed best to close the work for the time being and to undertake the construction of a vessel especially adapted for the purposes. It is a source of great encouragement and stin•ulus to be able to an- nounce now that the Car•egie Institution of Washington has styown sufficient cox•fidencein the projects of its Department Terrestrial tism as to warrant •naking special provision for the buildin• of a ¾cssel wholly desizned wittx the view to ocean magnetic surveys. 5It. Henry Gielow, nax'al architect and engineer, has been entrusted with the preparation of the plans and specifications,and it is hoped that the con- struction of the vessel may be soon begun. The new vessel is to be called the "Carnegie." She will l•e, pri- marily, a wooden,square-rigged, sailin• vessel, practically non-•nag'netic, but provided with auxiliary power (•25 H. P.)sufficient to driYe lief about 6 knots. This engine will be of the internal combustion, ,,"m pro- ducer type, and constructed as far as possible of non-n•agnetic materials. The distance from the magnetic instruments of the amount of iron necessarily remaining in the machinery, is to be sucl• that any possible outstanding magnetic effect will be of (or less than) the ordur of error of obs'ervation. The approxin•ate dinxensions w•11 be as follows: te•th over all, •55 feet' length on load under water line, r2S •.Cfeet- extrc•ne beam, 33)• feet; and draug'ht, x2,5 feet. It is expected that ttfis new x'esselwill be ready to resume tlxc magnetic survey near the middle of •9o9 and her work will be at first in the Atlantic Ocean. This action of the Executive Committee of the Carnegie Institution now makes certain the completion of the general n•a•netic surx'cy of the globe within a period of ro-• 5 years p•'or'hfcdcertain gox'ernmentswill once take action to secure magnetic surYeys in their own tulsurveycd domains.