CANADIAN FISHEJilES EXPHDITION, 19I',-lo 371 



water. Traces of these conditions might have been found in the spring as suggested 

 by me as regards the area outside the Gut of Canso, but the investigations did 

 not cover this area. The observations are, however, sufficient to show that the 

 outflow of relatively fresh gulf water from the superficial layers is more pronoun. •ed 

 in the summer than in the spring. This circumstance might explain the thinning out 

 of the snperficial coastal layer o\er the greater part of the gulf, though the coastal 

 water is found far more extensively in the southwestern part during the summer. 



Intermediate water (30-32 Voo^'. — At the surface the intermediate water is found 

 in the northeastern part of the gulf, the northern half of Cabot strait, as a broad rim 

 south of Newfoundland, and occupying the Nova Scotian bank area with the Laureutian 

 channel. In two places the superficial layers of intermediate water force their way out 

 over the Atlantic depth, viz., off the Laurentian channel and east of Shelbume, N.S. 

 At a depth of 25m., intermediate water occupies the gulf with the exception of the 

 larger southern bank area, in the Atlantic it is found over the Xova Scotian bank area, 

 with the exception of the larger part of the Sable Island bank, and further it is found 

 as a broad rim south of Newfoundland, but not over the outer part of the Laurentian 

 channel. The two offshoots of intermediate water in the direction of the Atlantic depths, 

 noted at the surface, are marked at this depth as well. At a depth of 50m., intermediate 

 water occupies the southern and western parts of the gulf, the southern 

 and larger part of Cabot strait, and a rim east of Nova Scotia, with 

 broader portions in the north and south, marking off the two offshoots of 

 intermediate water in the more superficial layers, mentioned above. At a depth of 75m. 

 intermediate water is only found in the gulf over the deeper parts of the southern banks 

 between Gaspe and Magdalen islands. When we compare the extension of the inter- 

 mediate water during the summer with that found in the spring, it is noteworthy that 

 water of this low salinity is found farther out at the surface during the summer, thus 

 showing the influence of the outflow of fresher water from the estuaries near the coast. 

 The northern offshoot very sharply marks off the water-masses from the gulf of St. 

 Lawrence, and the southern one is most probably a result of the outflowing fresher 

 water from the Bay of Fundy. 



BanJc water (32-33 '^/oo). — At the surface, water of this salinity is only found on 

 the shallower parts of the Newfoundland banks, and on the sloi>es of Sable Island bank 

 and La Have bank. Between these three areas it is forced seawards by the above- 

 mentioned offshoots of intermediate water. At a depth of 25m. it occupies the area 

 covering the Newfoundland banks and their slopes, the outer part of the Laurentian 

 channel, the slopes of the Nova Scotian banks and the larger part of Sable Island bank. 

 At 50m., bank water occupies the northeastern part of the gulf, the northern part of 

 Cabot strait, the Newfoundland and Nova Scotian bank area, with the exception of 

 Canso bank and part of Misaine bank. In the Laurentian channel, salter water at this 

 depth forces its way along the northern slopes, while on the other hand the bank water 

 sets on off the mouth of the channel and penetrates a distance out from the slopes. 

 At Y5-100m., bank water occupies the middle part of the gulf, the landward slopes of 

 the Newfoundland banks, the slopes and the channels of the inner Nova Scotian bank 

 area, and the Laurentian channel out to a line off the western point of St. Pierre bank. 

 At 200m. no trace of bank water is found. 



Comparing the spring and summer conditions as regards the distribution of bank 

 water we find that superficially it is forced seawards in the summer by the outflowing 

 fresher water. This influence is felt down to at least 25m. Deeper down the salter 

 water sets on and forces the bank water back, especially in the Laurentian channel, 

 •where at a depth of 75-lOOm., it is found only as far out as off the western point of 

 St. Pierre bank. At a depth of lOOm. we found in the spring an offshoot of salter water 

 along the northern slopes of the channel as far in as Cabot strait; this we do not find 

 during' the summer, for it has been forced away by the bank water, which farther out 



