Thus the west coast rainfalls of Ireland contain larger
quantities of chlorides than those of the east, and the table given by
Dr. Smith shows the variations in neighboring localities on the same
seafront. The chlorides of the English rains diminish as the observer
leaves the sea coast. In the following observations the waters of
thirty-two rains were collected, the chlorine determined by nitrate of
silver in amounts of the water varying from one liter to one-half a
liter, and in some instances less. While it is likely that some of the
chlorine was due to the presence of chlorides other than common salt, as
the position of the point of observation is not removed more than a mile
from oil distilleries and smelting and sulphuric acid works in New
Jersey, yet this could not even generally have been so, as the rain
storms came, for the greater number of instances, from the east, in an
opposite direction to the position of the factories alluded to. It has
also been noticed by Mr. A. Hollick, to whom these observations were of
interest, that in heavy storms a salt film often forms upon fruit
exposed to the easterly gales upon the shores of the island.
The yearly average for chlorine is 0.228 grain per gallon; for sodic
chloride, 0.376 grain. The total rainfall in our region for 1884, as
reported by Dr.
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