Some interesting statistics were given in Tuesday's Times to show
the gradual decrease in the frequency of London fogs. The figures are based upon the last twenty-seven winters. The results are best seen if this period is divided into three groups of nine winters each. The average number of days with fog in each winter of the first group (1883-84 to 1891-92) was 291 ; in the second group (1892-93 to 1900-1) it was 201 ; and in the third (1901-2 to 1909-10) it was only 10.6. There is also a corresponding increase in the hours of bright sunshine recorded, the average number of hours per winter in the same three periods being 551, 701, and 931 respectively. Various causes have been suggested to explain this great improvement in the London atmosphere, but the principal one has certainly been the reduction of the smoke nuisance, due both to the action of public authorities and to the use of improved methods of lighting and heating.
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