Imperial Navy Research Articles

A new universal magnetic theodolite for determining the declination, and the horizontal and vertical intensities

Ten years ago it occurred to me to apply some of the principles underlying the determination of the magnetic forces on board, adopted in the Russian Imperial Navy, to the direct measurement of the horizontal intensity H and the vertical intensity Z, with land instruments. Accordingly, in 1909 there were prepared the designs of a new theodolite for the determination of H and Z as well as of the declination, D, and for astronomical work. During the years 1910 and 1911 the instrument was constructed in the workshops of the General Hydrographic Office under the supervision of the chief of the shops, Mr. Heinrich Freiberg, the well‐known mechanician and collaborator of the late Heinrich Wild.The first tests of the new theodolite in Pavlovsk at the Constantin Observatory in 1911 and especially in a magnetic survey along the shores of the Bay of Finland, near Cronstadt in 1912, under severe conditions, gave satisfactory results. I was thus led to think that the proposed method might be applied to advantage in land magnetic survey work and even in observatory work.

Book Review Annual Report of the Health of the Imperial Navy for the Year 1908 . Tokyo. 1911.

Book Review Annual Report of the Health of the Imperial Navy for the Year 1908 . Tokyo. 1911.

Geographical Notes

IN the interests of anthropology, Dr. A. B. Meyer, curator of the Dresden Ethnological Museum, has just issued some practical suggestions addressed to the officers of the German Imperial Navy visiting the Indo-Pacific waters. The chief object of this “Denkschrift” is the completion of the Dresden ethnographic collection, whose desiderata are mentioned in detail, and special instructions are given as regards the Chinese seaboard, the South Sea Islands, the north-west coast of America, Madagascar, the Eastern Archipelago, and in general such places as lie on the ordinary route of the German Navy. Here is still to be gathered a rich harvest of materials illustrating the usages, traditions, religions, and social culture, especially of the Polynesian, Papuan, Indo-Chinese, Malay, and North American races. Many objects may thus be brought together calculated to throw light on such important historic and religious movements as the spread of Buddhism from India throughout East Asia, and the influence of Hinduism in past times on the local cultures in Further India and Malaysia. Amongst the miscellaneous wants particular mention is made of fishing gear, boat models, and musical instrments from Formosa; blowpipes, krisses, shields, and brass armour from the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan; nets, harpoons, magic wands from Corea and Yesso: wood carvings and idols from New Guinea and New Britain; clubs, spears, stone hatchets, tattoo designs, figures of men and animals in wood or stone from Melanesia; objects of fetish worship from Micronesia; jade ornaments from Polynesia; carved wooden marks of men and animals, clay or stone vessels, tobacco pipes and nephrite objects from the north-west coast of America; talismans, idols, house utensils, and weapons from Madagascar; wicker-work, burnt clay figures of evil spirits, woven materials from Ceylon; specimens of figure or picture writings on palm leaves from the Nicobar Islands. Some of these hints may be found useful by English travellers and others willing to promot anthropological work in the Indo-Pacific regions.

Solar Eclipse of 31st December, 1861, observed at Goree, and at St. Louis, Senegal, by Officers of the French Imperial Navy

Solar Eclipse of 31st December, 1861, observed at Goree, and at St. Louis, Senegal, by Officers of the French Imperial Navy

XLVII. On the local attraction of vessels.—In a Letter from Admiral Krusenstern of the imperial Russian Navy to Peter Barlow, Esq. F.R.S.

XLVII. <i>On the local attraction of vessels.—In a Letter from Admiral</i> K<scp>rusenstern</scp> <i>of the imperial Russian Navy to</i> P<scp>eter</scp> B<scp>arlow</scp>, <i>Esq. F.R.S.</i>