Knowledge of the rate constants of the reactions Cl + C2H6 (1) and Cl + CH4 (2) is important to the modeling of atmospheric chemistry, particularly in marine environments and in the stratosphere. These rate constants are also used as reference reactions in the determination of rate constants of many other species with Cl atoms. In a recent publication, the results of previous relative rate measurements of k(1)/k(2) have been called into question. The present experiments measure k(1)/k(2) from 250 to 700 K using GC analysis and at 296 K using an FTIR smog chamber. These relative rate measurements are consistent with previous relative rate measurements and agree to within 15% with ratios of k(1) and k(2) determined in recent absolute rate experiments. Contrary to recent claims, we believe that the relative and absolute data provide a consistent picture of the reactivity of Cl atoms toward CH4 and C2H6.