THE ARGUMENT FOR SOLIDITY. 273 



arrived in his original determination conducted on the same 

 theory.) 



It must, however, be remarked that, since the observations 

 are conducted in shallow water near the coast line, the ob- 

 served values' must be exaggerated by the heaping up of the 

 water caused by actual transference. The same cause would 

 produce higher tides the less open the sea ; so that the 

 nearer the equator the more accurate the results. It need 

 scarcely be pointed out, however, that this reasoning would 

 apply equally to almost any possible cause. 



Finally, it seems clear that, after making every allowance 

 possible, the results of observation do not definitely, or even 

 approximately, prove the existence of a fortnightly tide de- 

 pending upon the moon's action alone, and obeying certain 

 definite laws. 



Much might be learnt by establishing stations in those 

 latitudes where the theoretical tide should vanish, and also 

 by estimating the fortnightly component at ports North of 

 this latitude. Only if it were found that at such places a 

 fortnightly tide is practically non-existent could it be con- 

 sidered proved that a moon-caused fortnightly tide is an 

 established fact. 



At present the observations cannot be considered to dis- 

 prove a fluid interior. 



