24 



J. STANLEY GARDINER. 



any of the positions previously recorded round Male island, either at half-flood, or half- 

 ebb from the surface to within 3 fathoms of the bottom, an observation I confirmed by 

 the hydrometer. In the channel between N. and S. Male atolls the current was in the 

 same direction down to 150 fathoms. 



My second series of observations were to ascertain the depth to which the main 

 oceanic currents extended and their behaviour on meeting with an obstacle. I made two 

 examinations, the first at Minikoi and the second at Male'. A preliminary series of 

 observations off the east side of Minikoi showed that the oceanic current was setting 

 S.E. by E., and could be recorded usually down to a depth of at least 60 fathoms. Starting 

 from Weli Gandola passage, I then ran a line of soundings out from the reef, on which 

 I had affixed a pole. At the same time I took a series of observations on the direction 

 of the current at the surface and at intervals of about 20 fathoms down to a depth of 

 120 fathoms. Fig. 5 shows my results graphically ; it records my stations and the vertical 



SEA LEVEL 



Fig. 5. Diagram to illustrate the behaviour of a current on striking a reef. The section is that of the outer slope 

 off Weli-Gandola channel, Minikoi. Horizontal and vertical scales the same ; the former is marked in yards, 

 the latter in fathoms. 



effects of the obstacle on the current. Horizontal plans would show the divarication 

 of the upper current round the atoll, and the gradual merging into this of the lower 

 current. I made two additional soundings between the reef and the first recorded in 

 Fig. 5, but the rollers were so heavy that I did not attempt to use the indicator. A 

 similar line, run off the reef of Hulule faro, the north point of Hulule bearing due west, 

 gave similar re.sults down to 80 fathoms, .500 yards from the edge of the reef. The records 

 though were complicated by the proximity of the deep channel between N. and S. Male 

 atolls. 



1 An apology is perhaps needed for offering these ohserva- apparatus. I proposed subsequently to investigate the point 



tions at all ; they are not intended to be final, but may fully in the Maldives, but I was unable on account of illness 



perhaps suggest to others, more happily situated than I am, to make more than a preliminary series of observations off 



the need of investigating the matter fully. My work, indeed, Hulule. 

 at Minikoi was meant to be experimental to test my 



