Saturn.--This planet rises at 7 hours 57 min. on the 10th with a southern declination of 22-4 degs.; semi-diameter 8"-2; horizontal parallax 1"0. On the 20th he rises at 7 hours 16 min. On the 30th he rises at 6 hours 35 min., with a southern declination of 22.4 degs. ;. semi-diameter 8"-4; horizontal parallax 1"0.

Moon. The Moon will enter her first quarter on the 6th at 10 hours 39 min., and on the 14th she will be full at 13 hours 37 min. She will enter her last quarter on the 21st at 18 hours 31 min. The Moon will be new on the 28th at 12 hours 50 min. On the 9th the Moon will be in apogee at 0-3 hours, and on the 24th she will be in perigee at 16 hours.

CORRESPONDENCE.

σ

LATITUDE AND AZIMUTH OBSERVATIONS OF & OCTANTIS. TO THE EDITORS OF The Surveyor.

GENTLEMEN,-In answer to the letters of Mr. Ebbsworth and Mr. Merfield, re my table of Octantis, kindly insert the following:

σ

σ

If Mr. Ebbsworth requires a diagram for identifying Octantis I must refer him to the azimuth tables published by the Queensland Survey Departinent, or to a paper by Mr. Th. Fraser in Vol. III. No. 5 of the Surveyor. I do not know of any other simple method of finding Octantis except by an approximate azimuth and altitude. As the polar distance is very small, a small error in time and latitude has a very slight effect upon latitude and azimuth. If the latitude is only known to the nearest it will be sufficient near enough to obtain an approximate altitude and and azimuth for finding the star. When the instrument is set to these values, the star will be very near the intersection of the cross-hairs. In a telescope, as usually employed, two stars will appear brighter than the rest, namely, and ẞ Octantis. Their relative position, as seen in an inverting telescope, may be seen from the diagram above-mentioned. When the second term in the formula for latitude and azimuth may be omitted can be seen from the table giving the maximum values for different latitudes.

In answer to Mr. Merfield's letter, I may state that no advantage is gained by introducing instead of h into the formula. The tables, Mr. Merfield mentions, are computed for determination of latitude by a Ursa Minoris Tables with later values of polar distance, both for and A, by Polaris, have been published in Prof. Th. Albrecht's Formeln und Hülfstafeln für Geographische Ortsbestimmungen. The formula used for my tables are those used by Prof. Albrecht.

Yours truly,

G. HEIMBROD.

BOOKS..

Scientific Results of the Trawling Expedition of H.M.C.S. "Thetis" off the Coast of N.S. Wales in February and March, 1898. Part I. Aust. Museum, Sydney, 1899.

For some years previous to 1898 a fiercely-contested wordy war was waged between the advocates for a little more energy being imported into the fishing industry in New South Wales, and those who believed that our coast was too rocky to admit of trawling being carried on successfully, and that the luxury of cheap fish was consequently to be for ever denied to the Sydneyites. There were no evidences of a rocky bottom extending for any distance into the ocean, as no observations had been made on a scale likely to be of any use to the general public. Indeed, the few soundings taken by the Admiralty and the general observations and soundings made by the Harbours and Rivers Department went to show that beyond the 15-fathom line only very isolated patches of rock of small dimensions would be met with. That this proved to be the case, and that trawling might be made a commercial success is now a well-known fact, though the experiments made in the s.s. "Thetis" during February and March, 1898, were conducted under the most adverse circumstances. The steamer was admitted to be a most unsuitable one for the work, but it was the only one available, and had it not been for the energy and perseverance of those who "ran the show" the work would never have been carried to its successful ending.

As usual the scientific aspect of the case was thought of last. We wait for foreign expeditions to do our scientific investigations for us. It did not occur to those who looked for a commercial success immediately the trawling industry was started that a knowledge of the habits of the fish, their time of spawning, their movements and their range was first necessary. In older countries this knowledge is obtained by the establishment of Biological Research Stations, many of which are endowed by private individuals, while others are carried out with Government money and under Government supervision. Perhaps no place in the world offers better facilities for such an institution than Port Jackson, and yet all attempts to establish such have failed. A complete submarine survey is also of first importance, as it is useless to attempt to conduct trawling operations without a knowledge of the currents and of the temperatures at various depths from the coast-line to, at least, the edge of the continental shelf. In the Introduction to the volume under notice Mr. Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., remarks: "In the few instances where the services of a trained naturalist have been sought, he has never been consulted as to the necessary equipment or permitted any voice in the direction or control of the expedition, but has been placed on board to accept matters just as he may have found them." This is characteristic of the slipshod policy often, unfortunately, pursued at this side of the world; but it is a short-sighted and altogether a mistaken policy. When the scientist, working almost always from pure love of his subject, has revealed the secrets of the deep, the practical man with the fat head steps in and shows the world

with a flourish of trumpets what he can do. Later on he becomes a member of Parliament, or is appointed trustee or commissioner, or what not, and immediately does his best to reduce the salary of the scientist. Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the scientific records of this expedition were kept, Mr. E. R. Waite has produced a mass of interesting information which will be invaluable to future investigators. In the Introduction he gives a short history of the marine investigations since the visit of the "Astrolabe" in 1826; the trawl used is then described, as well as the dredge and tow-net. A short note of the Pelajic life harvested during the trip, and a few words on the importance of these surface organisms as food, directly or indirectly, for the fishes, are amongst the most interesting reading, while the temperatures and soundings, and the area traversed, and particulars of stations complete the introductory notes.

In the description of the fishes taken, ninety-five genera appear, including one new one; nine new species are described, nine known species are recorded for the first time for this Colony, including three which have not been recognised from Australia, and eight species are mentioned not obtained since first recorded. The plates, which are excellently reproduced from really well-drawn figures, include all the new species except one, of which adult examples are not available, while some figures are published of species not obtained for comparison with allied forms. The expedition has certainly been the means of increasing our very limited knowledge of the range of many of the most valuable of our food fishes, the most having been made of the few hauls obtained during the trip. Enough has been done to whet our appetite for more, and to show how desirable in every way-indeed, how absolutely necessary it is, if we wish to extend our fishing industry, to obtain the fullest scientific information before attempting to start a commercial project of such vast importance to the inhabitants of a large city. This information cannot be obtained by poorly. equipped and hurried trips at odd times and seasons. The investigations must be extended through all seasons of the year; the surveys must be thorough and complete, and, needless to say, the work must be in the hands of competent men. No more profitable work could perhaps be carried out either by the Government or by private enterprise than a well-organised investigation of the possibilities of our sea coast to supply the needs of our growing population.

T

LINNEAN SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

HE Twenty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on Wednesday evening, March 28th, 1900.

The Hon. James Norton, LL.D., M.L.C., President, in the Chair.
The President delivered the Annual Address.

The past Session had been specially characterised by an increase in the Membership with a correspondingly larger average attendance at the Monthly Meetings, and by the complete realisation of the plans for the fitting and equipment of the Society's Bacteriological Laboratory as foreshadowed in the Annual Address of a year ago. At a special meeting held in April last it was resolved, on the motion or the Hon. Treasurer, that the operation of the Rule which provides for the payment of entrance fees should be suspended during the year 1900. Thirty-eight Ordinary Members and one Associate were elected during the year. By the death of Mr. W. Kershaw, sen., of Melbourne, the Society has lost a member whose knowledge of the Victorian fauna was very considerable. Forty papers were read at the Meetings held during the Session. Three parts of the proceedings were issued during the year; the concluding part would be ready in a few days. The completion of the fittings and equipment of the Society's Bacteriological Laboratory had been successfully carried out. The total expenditure in connection with Bacteriology up to the end of 1898 was £1,264 10s. 9d. The forthcoming part of the proceedings would be found to contain two papers contributed by the Bacteriologist.

The remainder of the Address was devoted to some general considerations respecting the age of Australia, a subject sufficiently enshrouded in obscurity to render it one of inexhaustible and perennial interest.

On the motion of Mr. Henry Deane an appreciative vote of thanks was accorded to the President for his interesting Address.

The Hon. Treasurer presented his balance-sheet, and moved its adoption, which was carried. The Society's total income for the financial year ending December 31st, 1899, was £1549 16s. 1d. ; the total expenditure, £2018 14s. 9d., which, with a credit balance of £878 5s. 3d. at the beginning of the year, and with £350 placed at fixed deposit in the Commercial Bank, left the Society's ordinary account with a credit balance of £21 14s. 3d., and the Bacteriology account with a credit balance of £37 12s. 4d.

No other nominations having been received, the President declared the following elections for the current Session to have been duly made :—

President: Hon. James Norton, LL.D., M. L. C.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL (to fill six vacancies): Messrs. R. T. Baker, F. L.S., W. W. Froggatt, F. L.S., C. Hedley, F. L.S., A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc., F. Turner, F.L.S.

AUDITORS: Messrs. E. G. W. Palmer, J.P., and Duncan Carson.

On the motion of the Hon. Treasurer it was resolved that the suspension of the operations of Rule vI., providing for the payment of entrance fees, should be continued for all members nominated or elected during the year 1900.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Hon. James Norton, LL.D., M.L. C., President, in the Chair.

Mr. P. G. Black, North Sydney, Dr. W. H. Crago, College Street, the Hon. Henry C. Dangar, M. L. C., Potts' Point, Mr. George Elliott, O'Connell Street, and Mr. John A. Ferguson, Glebe Point, were elected Members of the Society.

THE FOLLOWING PAPERS WERE READ :—

(1) Descriptions of New Australian Lepidoptera. By Oswald B. Lower. (2) Descriptions of two new Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera) from New South Wales. By G. A. Waterhouse.

(3) Catalogue of the Described Mosses of New South Wales. Walter Watts, and Thomas Whitelegge, F. R. M. S.

By Rev.

The paper comprises 530 described species, with references to literature and localities.

(4) On the Skeleton of the Snout and Os carunculæ of the Mammary Foetus of Monotremes. By Professor J. T. Wilson, M.B., Ch. M.

NOTES AND EXHIBITS.

Mr. J. H. Maiden exhibited the olive-green gum-resin and fruits of Gardenia Aubryi, Vieillard, from New Caledonia. The fruit is remarkable for its large, calyx-limbs ; and the resin, which profusely exudes, has formed the subject of an exhaustive research by Heckel and Schlagdenhauffen in the Répertoire des Pharmacie for 1893. Also specimens of a fig from the National Park, near Sydney, which answers well to the description of the Queensland Ficus Henneana, Miq., subject to examination of male flowers, which could not be detected in any of the over-ripe specimens available this

season.

Mr. Waterhouse exhibited collections of the species of the genera Ogyris and Hesperilla in illustration of his paper.

Mr. Cheel exhibited an interesting form of the fern Blechnum cartilagineum, Sw., collected at Cundletown, Manning River, showing many of the segments to be pinnatisect, giving the frond the appearance of being bipinnatifid.

Mr. Percy Williams showed a beautiful specimen of the rare butterfly, Heteronympha paradelpha, Lower, from Berrima, N.S. W.; and he contributed a Note in reference to its capture.

Mr. A. J. Campbell, of Melbourne, exhibited a number of lantern slides illustrative of Australian birds, their nests and eggs, photographed under natural conditions.

Mr. Palmer contributed a Note describing his experiences after being bitten by a black snake in February last. He also exhibited a snake which had attacked a member of his family; and a number of insects from Lawson.

Mr. Fletcher exhibited several specimens of a small freshwater crab which Mr. Whitelegge had kindly examined, and identified as Hymenosoma lacustris, Chilton. The species were originally described from New Zealand, but was subsequently obtained in Lord Howe Island by Mr. Whitelegge, who was a member of the Australian Museum party which visited the Island in 1887. The specimens exhibited were forwarded by Mr. E. Stuart Dove, who collected them in the north of Tasmania.

A

BRITISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION.

Meeting of the New South Wales Branch was held in the Room of the Institution of Surveyors, on the 20th March, 1900, when the President (Rev. Dr. T. Roseby, F. R. A.S.,) occupied the Chair.

An interesting paper on the Southern Cross was contributed by Mr. Hugh Wright, in which was traced, through the writings of many travellers, the identity of the constellation back to the year A.D. 1515. Dante's