On the probable position of the south magnetic pole

Abstract

The recent discovery of the site of the North Magnetic Pole, which has resulted from the experiments of Capt. James Ross, suggested to the author the inquiry whether any similar indications of an approach to the South Magnetic Pole can be gathered from any observations now on record. With this view a table is given of the observations made by Tasman in 1642 and 1643, during his voyage of discovery in the Southern Ocean, extracted from his journal; from which it appears that he on one occasion noticed the continual agitation of the horizontal needle, in south latitude 42° 25', and longitude from Paris 160°. On the presumption that the South Magnetic Pole was at that time near this spot, and that it has since been retrograding towards the East, the author conjectures that it will now be found in or about the 43rd parallel of south latitude; and to the south-east of the Island of Madagascar, a situation extremely convenient for ascertaining its exact position, which he considers as an object of great theoretical as well as practical importance.