( 869 ) 



On this part the inclination of the high and low water lines 

 will amount to 3.16 cM. at mean springtide and to 1.52 eM. at 

 mean neaptide. 



On the Suez-canal the inclination of the high and low water lines 

 between the Bitter Lakes and the Red Sea amounts to 2.52 cM. 

 per. K. M. at mean spring tide and to 1.48 cM. at mean neaptide. 



Under the intluence of the direction and force of the wind, the 

 height of the tides on the Suez-canal may be increased or diminished 

 by about 0.25—0,33 M. 



As a consequence the inclination of the high and low water lines 

 may be increased by about 1 cM. per K. M. 



As the distance of the Bitter Lakes to the Red Sea is about 28 K.M., 

 this already enables us to conclude that the velocities of the current 

 in an open Panama-canal, for the first 28 K. M. on the side of the 

 Atlantic, cannot greatly differ from those which occur on the Suez- 

 canal (See Plate II). 



If therefore — leaving out of consideration the absolute value of 

 the velocities — we may assume that the velocity of the current 

 will offer no difficulties on the Suez-canal even when it will have 

 been widened, then it follows that on an open Panama- canal, for 

 about the distance of 28 K. M. from the Atlantic, no difficulties will 

 be met with on account of the velocity of the current. 



Finally as to the middle part of the canal extending for about 

 36 K. M. between K. M. 28 and K. M. 64 from the Atlantic. 



For this part the differences between the velocities of the current, 

 occurring therein, with those occurring in the preceding 28 K. M., 

 may be computed with sufficient accuracy by means of the equation 

 of continuity. 



For, let ab be the canal's surface for this part, at the epoch i, a little 

 before low water, at the distance of 64 K. M. from the Atlantic. 

 Similarly let a'b' be the canal's surface a second later, then necessarily 



(B -f B,) A y -f A y. 



V ^ l ' X 36000 X — = lv — I x v x 



from which 



36000 frg-j-^H Ay-f Ay,) I -J, 



i ^i 



Now the quantities I, I t> B, B x , Ay and Ly x , are known for the 

 epoch t, at least if we admit that — as is the case on the Suez- 

 canal — the high- and lowwaterlines for the part 28 — 64 K.M. are 



