While reading "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea" I came across the
following descriptions of a device for predicting storms:

From a description of the instrumentation of the Nautilus:
  "the storm-glass, the contents of which, by decomposing, announce the
   approach of tempests"

From a description of the storm after the fight with the squids:
  "The mixture of the storm glass was decomposed under the influence
   of the electricity that pervaded the atmosphere."

Sounds like a useful device.  All the other instruments mentioned in
the book exist (thermometer, barometer, hygrometer, sextant,
chronometer, manometer).  Anyone know if such a thing as a storm
glass really exists, how it works, and how to build or buy one?
Please reply via email.  I’ll summarize if there is interest.

r…@vicorp.com or uunet!vicorp!ron