General Development of the G.B.I. during 1954 
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appreciably simplified, especially due to the obligingness of the regional 
authorities for statistics; negotiations between the "Bundesvérkehrsministe- 
rium" and the "Statistische Bundesamt« promise a further release by distri 
buting the work to be done. Consequently the punch cards machines may be used 
or reserved more for own work than it was hitherto possible, especially for 
that of the astronomical''branch (analysis and prediction of the tides, com 
putation of the "-Nautisches Jahrbuch", computation of the ephemerides of, 
fixed stars for the photographical zenith telescope of the Time Service etc.). 
Because of overburdening of the chart and book printing office the 
"Nautisches Jahrbuch" 1955 appeared about 5 weeks later than in the preced 
ing year. The work relating to the Tear Book 1956 could be furthered with 
combined efforts to such an extent that this Year-Book can be published about 
three months earlier. Cooperation with the "Bunkortungsausschuß" lead to a 
considerable extension of experiences in connection with the use of radar 
instruments on sea-going ships. 
The further development and extension of the Time Service was Strongly 
handicapped in 1954 by the partly already accomplished and partly anticipated 
removal of this service into the new office building housing the authorities 
under the auspices of'the "Bundesverkehrsministerium". 
Thè observation house for the erection of the zenith telescope, which 
latter is being manufactured, could be completed. The transmitting apparatuses 
for the radio time signal as well as the theoretical prediction of the exact . 
time were improved and time signals were transmitted and received to the usual 
extent. The stock 'of instruments was completed, and adapted to the demands for 
an increased accuracy. 
The chronometer testing service experienced a considerable increase of 
testings of ship's chronometers and regular watches. 
In the field of nautical technics numerous investigations, testings and 
examinations of nautical equipment and instruments were carried out and im 
portant new testing facilities were accomplished or procured in the year under 
review to improve the safety of ships. 
Bor the investigations of deviations of magnetic compasses as they easily 
occur in ships under the influence of mechanical accelerations with the 
rolling movement, a large swing was built and mounted (op. Bigure besides p. 
8 ). This instrument enables oscillations with a duration of between 6 to 
25 seconds in any ohoosen vertical plane with amplitudes Of up to + 2,5 m. 
The results obtained with this instrument during the experiments will find 
their practical realization - according to a proposal of the "Ausschuß des 
Seeverkehrs-Beirats für Angelegenheiten des Deutschen Hydrographischen In 
stituts" in special regulations to be set up for a dynamical testing to be 
introduced within the scope of the compass testing regulations of the G.H.I.