692 



over quite a monlh, during which period Ihe weather was calm, 

 so that storms had no disturbing effects. 



Vaagfjord (open to tlie east). Almost at tlie end of tlie fjord, tlie 

 difference between liigh and low water is a little more tlian 3 feet wlien 

 the current is strongest (spring-tide); with »fair« eurrent (neap-tide) 

 only ^/4 feet. Higli and low water occur very regularly in tliis fjord. 



Trangi.svaagfjord (open to the east). High and low water do not 

 occur so regularly in this fjord as in Vaagfjord. When the current is 

 strongest the difference is generally about 3 feet, but one day during 

 the period of observation it reached 6 feet; with »fair« current the dif- 

 ference is only 1 foot. 



Sorvaagfjord (open to the westi. Regular tides occur. At spring-tide 

 there is a difference of ca. 6 feet, at neap-tide of ca. 3 feet. 



Midvaagfjord. The fjord is open to the south-east, but on account 

 of the western situation of the island the difference is considerable. Re- 

 gular tides occur. At spring-tide there is a difference of ca. 5V2 feet, at 

 neap-tide of 2V3— 3 feet. 



Vestmanhavn. The fjord is open to the west, and at Vestmanhavn- 

 sund to the north-west and south-west. Regular tides occur. At spring-tide 

 there is a difference of ca. 6 feet, at neap-tide of ca. 2 feet 



Sandsbugt (open to the south-west). Regular tides occur. At spring- 

 tide there is a difference of about 5V2, but it may reach to about 7 feet; 

 when the current is »fair« the difference is hardly 2 feet. 



As appears from these observations, the greatest difference noted 

 with certainly is about 7 feet; but there is no reason to doubt that 

 there are piaces where a somewhat greater difference may occur. 

 This is probably the case on the western side of Sydero and on 

 the north-western side of Stromo. At F'amien on Sydero, the in- 

 habitants have told me that the difference may amount to from 

 8 — 10 feet. These figures are however small in themselves and 

 would only mean a littoral algal vegetation of relatively limited 

 extent compared with that of the western coasts of Norway and of 

 the British Isles, were it not that other circumstances aid tlie algæ 

 of exposed coasts to grow even far above the highest water mark. 



The tidal wave, or, as they say in the Færoes, the »West- 

 fall« and the »Eastfall«, produces a very rapid current, changing 

 regularly every 6th hour^ in open fjords and especially in the sounds. 



At spring-tide, wdien the current is most rapid, it may in cer- 

 tain piaces, such as Vestmanhavnsund, flow as fast as 8—10 miles 

 an hour, and in such piaces the larger algæ are of course exposed 

 to a very great strain. 



Whilst on all exposed coasts and in most fjords and sounds 



1 Nolsofjord fiowever excepted; on account of peculiar circumstances the cur- 

 rent tliere runs 8 hours one way and 4 liours tlie other. 



