amidships, with orders to keep it there. Soon the ship's head commenced to go to starboard, and continued to go that way, veering four points of the compass in exactly ten minutes of time, and if I could have afforded it, and so given the ship sufficient time, she would have described a complete circle, turning her head to starboard, with helm placed exactly amidships. Of course, I then had to give her starboard helm to counteract this action of the propeller, and bring her back to port, and on to the compass point that I was before steering. Such a test, I think, is convincing that a ship, having a righthanded propeller, and going continuously ahead, the natural action of that propeller is to turn the ship's head to starboard, and that movement would be very much accelerated by giving the ship port helm. His remark, suggesting that when having a right-handed propeller it is best to cant the ship with her head to starboard, especially when being obliged to turn short round and to reverse, I quite agree with. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, May 29th, 1879. A. H. BURWELL, Master s.s. Minnesota. EXAMINATION OF EXTRA MASTER. To the Editor of the "Nautical Magazine." SIR,-In your Official Log of the March number of the Nautical Magazine for 1876, page 292, you state that the Board of Trade have issued a draft circular to the Local Marine Boards, in which it is proposed to allow candidates to pass the extra masters' examination at the same time as the ordinary masters, and that an indorsement to that effect would be made on his ordinary master's certificate, although the extra certificate would not be issued until after the candidate had served two years as master, and produced satisfactory testimonials. This circular, I presume, has come into effect, as I have just passed the extra master's examination immediately after passing as ordinary master, but to my surprise, on going to the shipping office I found my certificate returned to me without any indorsement. On enquiry at the Local Board, and also at the office of the Registrar-General of Seamen, I find that they have no authority for such indorsement, and the only thing I have to show for my trouble is the examiner's authority for use to receive the extra certificate after I have served two years as master. Could you inform me if such indorsement has ever been made, or if there is any authority for doing so? As the extra certificate is only an honorary one, similar to steam and compass deviation, for which I have an indorsement on my certificate, I do not see why I should not get some acknowledgement for the trouble and expense I have been put to in passing. Your notice states that the object is to encourage young officers to study navigation and the various subjects bearing upon their profession. If the facts were made known it might deter others from going to a deal of trouble and expense to acquire that which is practically of no value. I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, June 12, 1879. HENRY PYBUS. Lewisham, [We are sure that the draft circular, issued by the Board of Trade in 1876, was as inserted in the Magazine, but are not so positive as to whether the printed circular, subsequently issued, was precisely to the same effect, though we have every reason to suppose it was intended to be. We have heard before of the grievance to which our correspondent refers. At present, a candidate presents himself for the ordinary and extra certificate, as he is permitted to do; but, having passed his examination, he is given an ordinary master's certificate, without any recognition of his having also passed as extra. Should another candidate merely pass the ordinary examination, and subsequently take the "Deviation Syllabus," this candidate's certificate is endorsed to the effect that he has passed in the Syllabus. Thus the latter, who has really passed the less examination, appears to stand higher than the former, and this, we have reason to believe, only requires to be represented to the Board of Trade to be rectified, as we know that the Board is desirous that young officers should take as high a status as they can.-Ed. N. M.] WEATHER FORECAST FOR JULY, 1879. THE CURRENTS OR TENDENCY OF THE AIR OVER THE BRITISH ISLANDS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, 1879. 26° 4' increased 1' S.W. W.S.W. 5 W. by S. 5 W.N.W. NOTE.-Sun's gradients S. Westerly becoming N. Westerly towards the end of month. Daily change due to Sun occurs between 1 a. and 2 a. Moon's maximum S. declination on the 2nd E.N.E. 6 E. by N. 5 E. by S. E.S.E. S.E. Possible gale when strong force from North diminishes about the 27th and 28th. 2. Moon going South 1st and 2nd. coming North, from the 3rd to the 16th. 3. Change from the Easterly to the Westerly tendency about the 7th. A minor change takes place about the 11th and 21st. 4. General Forecast: 1st to the 3rd, Unsettled, cold and wet. 10th, Generally fine. Temperature rising and high. 17th 24th, Generally fine. 31st, Very unsettled and wet, with frequent thunderstorms. Temperature generally high. 5. It will be observed that the force from the North is still greater than that from the South. These forces are, however, gradually becoming equalised. The prevalence of northerly and easterly winds experienced during the past six months have been due to a combination of causes. 1st. The strongest force has been from the North as the Tables clearly show. 2nd. The Moon's sphere of action has been rapidly contracting, that is to say, its maximum declination North and South has been diminishing; there is, however, a slight increase during this month. 3rd. The rotatory velocity has been high. 6. The retrograde movements during the equinoctial and solstitial periods are caused by the contraction and steepening of the great gradients, consequent on the increased rotatory velocity at these times. These move. ments must be carefully distinguished from the progressive movements which follow the varying declination of the Sun. During March and May. June, the retrograde is opposed to the progressive, but during September and November-December these movements are combined. Similar retro grade movements, on a smaller scale, will occur when the Moon crosses the Equator, and when it approaches its maximum northern and southern declination. After these periods of contraction an expansion owing to reaction, naturally takes place. Thus we have a contraction during November. December, and this is combined with the ordinary motion southwards; this contraction continues during part of January, but it is opposed by the progressive motion northwards; an expansion occurs in February, a contraction in March, an expansion in April, a contraction in May-June, and an expansion in July, but this latter is opposed by the ordinary motion southwards. These retrograde movements are accelerated or retarded, increased or diminished according as they are combined with, or opposed to, those caused by the Moon. D. D. CANAL ACROSS THE FLORIDA PENINSULA. The projection of a canal across the Florida peninsula is again spoken of as a good speculation, and as a means of more effectually opening up the riches of the Mississippi valley. From Matanzas-Sulet, on the Atlantic, to Fort Wool or Clay Landing, on the Suwanee river, its length would not exceed seventy-five miles; it would be well supplied with water from the numberless small streams and watercourses with which the peninsula abounds, and there would be a good port at each outlet. The distance between New York and New Orleans, by the way of the canal, would be shortened by 1,000 to 1,200 miles; but this does not represent the only gain; there would be the enormous saving of life and property effected by avoiding the many dangers of the route via Florida strait, where the weather is always bad, and the current, out of the stream, more or less capricious. It is also said that owing to the lack of economical transport the annual waste of the produce of the Mississippi valley is beyond estimate, but that it would find its way to a profitable market through the Florida canal. The revenue of this canal would also be further augmented as soon as the Darien canal placed the Gulf of Mexico in closer relation with California, Japan and China. |