British Rainfall 1896, p.17
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British Rainfall 1896 page 17
also went monthly and measured the gauge on The Stye. Then every record except the Seathwaite one was neglected.
 In 1863, Mr. Isaac Fletcher, M.P., F.R.S., a relative of the deceased Dr. Miller, decided upon having a fresh series of observations made at most of the places at which Dr. Miller had had gauges. He designed the pattern of gauge show in the annexed figure, and had twelve constructed by Messrs. Cook, of York. The container (B) was of very thick copper, and the outer case was of stout iron. These gauges cannot collect the proper quantity of snow, but they stood severe frost remarkable well. For six or seven years Mr. Fletcher was very careful in superintending these gauges and forwarding the records, but after 1869 the returns were not furnished to us. By chance we saw the figures for 1872 in a local newspaper, and therefore probably the gauges were read during 1870 and 1871, and perhaps even in 1873. But Mr. Fletcher became engrossed in Parliamentary duties, and died in 1878, and no records were found among his papers. A year or two before Mr. Fletcher's death, Mr. Maitland, of Chester Place, Hyde Park, an enthiusiastic climber in the Lake District, had communicated with Mr. Fletcher, and eventually in 1876 took over the gauges, had all necessary repairs made, and obtained the assistance of Mr. Wilson, of Wasdale, as observer, so that there should be no interruption when Mr. Maitland was in London. During Mr. Maitland's life he defrayed the whole cost, besides giving much personal attention to the work; keeping records at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 3000 ft. is neither easy nor inexpensive. However, in less than seven years Mr. Maitland died, and for the last 15 years the work has fallen wholly upon Mr. Wilson, and the cost upon the Rainfall Organization. In 1896 Mr. Wilson being about to leave the neighbourhood, the entire subject had to be reconsidered, and it was decided that the gauges from Sca Fell Pike and from Gable Hawes should be removed to The Stye, so as to obtain all possible information respecting the rainfall of that interesting locality. The new observer has therefore the care of seven gauges, viz., Sprinkling Tarn (1985ft.), Styehead |
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