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the mill, but twist and turn it as he would he could not do so, and 
the mill ground and ground and the heap of salt grew higher and 
higher, and at last down sank the boat. And there lies the mill 
at the bottom of the sea, and grinds away to this very day, and 
that’s why the sea is salt. 
Scarcely less fantastic is the fable of Rabelais, who relates how 
when Pheton essayed to drive the chariot of the sun and collided 
with the earth. Le globe transpira fortement. Les mers furent 
Ie résultat de cette exudation, car, dit-il, toute sueur est sallée. Ce 
que vous direz estre vray si voulez taster de la votre propre.” 
The saltness of the sea is of more practical importance than one 
might, at first sight, imagine. Salt not only increases the 
dynamic powers of the ocean, renders it more buoyant and enables 
ships to carry larger cargoes than they could if it were fresh, but 
it profoundly influences the climate of our globe. Captain Maury 
says, ‘‘From the brine the sea derives dynamical powers and its 
currents their main strength. Hence to understand the dynamics 
of the ocean, it is necessary to study the effects of their saltness 
upon the equilibrium of the waves. Why is the sea made salt? 
It is the salts of the sea that impart to its waters those curious 
anomalies in the laws of freezing and of thermal dilatation. It is 
the salts of the sea that assist the rays of heat to penetrate its 
bosom.” The temperature of the earth depends on the cireulation 
of the ocean, so that the condition of the whole world, both 
meteoric and climatic, which so profoundly affects the development 
and maintenance of life, both animal and vegetable, would all be 
entirely altered were the sea not salt. 
At the close of Dr. FitzGerald’s paper, a short discussion took 
place, or rather some further information was asked for, with 
reference to the influence of the sea upon coast towns, and as to 
the quantity of sea water which might advantageously be taken 
medicinally. 
Dr. FitzGerald having replied, 
Mr. G. C. Walton, F.L.8., proceeded to give some information 
on the subject of grasses and sedges, a large number of very 
beautiful and perfect specimens of each order of vegetation being 
exhibited, and in passing a vote of thanks to Mr. Walton, a hope 
was expressed that he would pursue the subject further at a future 
meeting. 
