378 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAYAL SERVICE 



with the 32-5 Voo isohaline running- at a depth of 50-75ni. The deeper part of the 

 section down to 400m. is occupied by slope water with a salinity between 34-70 and 

 34 • 80 Voo at 400m. The conditions so far confirm those found in section XXII, only 

 at the slopes of the bank found between stations 107 and 106 they seem to be somewhat 

 different. As will be seen in the table, the position of the water-masses along the slopes 

 of this bank seems to be quite disturbed. The bottom of the bank and the slopes down 

 to about 25m. from its edge are covered by 33-water, while deeper down, at about 140 

 to 180m. we find 31-water. The temperatures, as seen below, correspond with this 

 inverse position of the water-masses. I can only explain the fact as follows: A wedge 

 of Salter water is, by the configuration of the bottom or other agencies, forced upwards 

 and inwards, being at the same time undermined by a similar wedge of fresher water 

 running in the opposite direction. This position of the water-masses is not stable, 

 but as, however, the salinity and the temperature are in conformity we are forced to 

 acknowledg'e the fact. 



Temperature.— The temperature of the intermediate water-masses seems to be 

 somewhat lower than in section XXII . This is, however, only apparent as station 

 XXIII 107 lies more seaward than station XXII 99, which is also shown by the higher 

 salinity at the former station. Nearer up to the coast we should most possibly find 

 about the same temperatui-e up to 7°-8° C, as in that section, the position of the 

 isotherms is almost the same in both sections, and the only exception is the cooling 

 down of the neighbouring water-masses over the bank, where the wedge of Salter and 

 colder water from the deeper parts has ascended. 



Compared with conditions in the spring and summer it seems as if the inflowi:::,' 

 current in the northern part of Cabot strait, whose activity we found had diminished 

 somewhat in the summer time, has again increased and forced the more continental 

 water-masses up to the southern shore of the strait. The salinity of this inflowing 

 current, the western branch of the Labrador current, is however somewhat lower, and 

 the temperature, at least deeper down, somewhat higher than in the spring. This is 

 obviously due to the mixing of the Labrador water over the banks with the warmer 

 and fresher continental water-masses, which during the svimmer predominated at the 

 surface far seawards over the banks. 



