Figures 9, 20, and 32 showed the relative flows of the upper 

 intermediate layer associated with the salinity maximum. In each 

 case the complex pattern obscured any net current trend. Qualitatively, 

 the averaged dynamic heights indicate that during cruise 17 a weak, 

 southwesterly current passed through the survey region with some of 

 the water being deflected toward the northwest and southeast along the 

 island chain. For cruise 20 a southeasterly drift was indicated along 

 the island chain, and for cruise 21 the averaged dynamic heights showed 

 a southerly current impinging on the inlands which was deflected toward 

 the southeast. The net current strength during cruises 20 and 21 was 

 approximately twice that of cruise 17, but in cruise 21 the direction 

 changed toward that observed for cruise 17. The indicated seasonal 

 variation in the relative drift direction of the upper intermediate layer 

 was a feature also noted in the surface layer. 



30 



