PHYTOPLANKTON OF EAST CUMBERLAND BAY 207 



By the time St. MS 88 was worked the phytoplankton was practically non-existent, 

 violent fluctuating winds during the preceding week being responsible. Otherwise, 

 with a fall in salinity correlated with an easterly wind one would have expected an in- 

 creased development of neritic diatoms. Such an increase did in fact take place at the 

 very next station, when, on December 18, Fragilaria sp. attained its maximum for the 

 season. The salinity and intermediate wind conditions were very similar to those at the 

 previous station, though, as might have been expected, the sharpest discontinuity layer 

 occurred at a somewhat greater depth. Conditions during the following week were 

 fairly stable and at St. MS 90 Fragilaria sp. still predominated over all other forms. 

 A fresh south-easterly breeze was accompanied by a sharp fall in the salinity at the 

 surface and in the temperature of the upper layers (Fig. 84), points that emphasize the 

 influence of the large Nordenskjold glacier and the ice which is nearly always present 

 in the south-eastern portion of the bay. 



Prior to the next station, St. MS 91, strong variable winds were experienced, and the 

 salinity values and more gradual temperature gradient furnish strong evidence that 

 mixing of the water layers above 40 m. had taken place. On the day of the station itself 

 it was blowing nearly half a gale from the north-north-west. In agreement with this 

 the salinity of the upper layers was considerably raised, and the diatom catch, though 

 poor, showed an increased proportion of Coscinodisciis stellaris. This form is of constant 

 occurrence inshore, but in small numbers, and it is probable that at this period its 

 presence was due to invasion from outside (pp. 213, 214). 



Throughout the ensuing week northerly winds prevailed and at St. MS 92 the 

 salinity was found to be still higher in the upper layers. A slight fall at the extreme sur- 

 face was due to the presence of ice, apparently brought over from the Neumayer glacier 

 in West Fjord by the strong north-westerly wind of the two preceding days. The 

 phytoplankton was similar to that obtained at the previous station, but not so rich, a 

 fact that may be explained by further mixing — during this period the salinity of the 

 whole column down to 75 m. was considerably raised, and the amount of phosphate 

 also increased, strong evidence of the influx of outside water in bulk. These conditions 

 reached their height on January 15 (St. MS 95) when the maximum salinity observed 

 during the season was attained, with increased phosphate values. This was accompanied 

 by a fresh northerly wind and a comparatively rich phytoplankton, Coscinodiscus stellaris 

 being dominant (Figs. 81 and 84). 



During the remainder of the season the diatom hauls were very poor, but, as the 

 sequel should show, this was probably due to a combination of adverse factors, rather 

 than water movements caused by wind alone. The interesting relation between the wind 

 and the salinity of the upper layers, however, continued. Thus at St. MS 97 there 

 occurred a sharp fall in salinity, and although the wind was working round to the north 

 on the morning of the station, reference to the diagrams shows that easterly and south- 

 easterly weather had prevailed during the previous four days. At the next two stations 

 northerly winds were again correlated with increased salinity. 



At St. MS 100 (February 12) surface salinities were lowered although the values for 



