REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 323 



and east so as to cut off' the 35-4 7oo water of the western part of the 

 Channel from the dense water of the Bay of Biscay on the siaface, 

 though there was still a connection by an undercurrent. The general 

 velocity of the currents had reached its minimum, whilst the difference 

 in temperature between the top and bottom was now greatest. The 

 isolated area in the eastern part of the Channel was not well marked, 

 but this may have been due to the want of observations far enough 

 south. 



In November there were signs of an increased velocity, and water of 

 high salinity was now found west of Ushant, though there was still 

 a narrow strip of fresher water between this point and the area of 

 35-4 7oo S. south of Devon and Cornwall. The dense water in the 

 eastern part of the Channel was well marked. 



In February, 1904, the conditions were complicated by the great 

 gale at the beginning of the month, and the distribution of salinity 

 for the first ten days, as shown by the analysis of samples taken on 

 liners, lightships, etc., differs considerably from that obtaining from 

 February 16th to March 1st, when the observations on the Huxley 

 were made. During the first period a large area of 35-6 7oo S. extended 

 from a point about 100 miles south of the Irish coast easterly to mid- 

 channel south of Land's End, and thence south-west across the Bay of 

 Biscay, This was quickly obliterated by a southerly flow from the 

 Irish Sea, and during the latter half of the month it only appeared as 

 an isolated area marked by a single sample in mid-channel north of 

 Ushant, the general conditions east of this point resembling those of 

 May in the previous year. 



It would appear that during the summer and early autumn the 

 Channel waters were derived largely from the Irish Sea, while during 

 the rest of the year the high -salinity water of the Bay of Biscay 

 preponderated. 



An interesting conclusion regarding the effect of gales may be 

 drawn from the work done during the period dealt with in this Beport, 

 namely, that they cause considerable variations in the physical con- 

 ditions at any point, but these variations do not persist for more than 

 a few days. The great gale at the beginning of February, 1 904, caused 

 a marked rise in salinity of the surface water at the lightships round 

 the coast from Cardigan Bay to the East Goodwin, with the exception 

 of the Ourrs and Jiojjdl Sovereign light-vessels, where an equally well- 

 marked fall occurred. In less than a week, however, normal conditions 

 again prevailed, and as it is impossible to make observations on a small 

 steamer like the Hiuley during or for a few days after a gale, it is 

 almost certain that the results obtained on any cruise show the normal 

 conditions for the season. The variations mentioned show that the 



