The Deep Ourrents of the North Sea. 
Or 
_ The bottom curves of the present series are shewn on Chart [., 
and are based on the returns obtained from the trawled bottles only. 
The resultants are projected in their respective areas, the direction 
of the general trend bemg shewn by arrows, while the length of the 
arrow indicates the average drift in miles per 100 days. This 
mileage is also pisited in “figures and is represented by the lower 
of the two numbers in the area, the top figure being the number of 
observations from which the resultant is obtained, for, of course, 
the value of the result increases with an increased number of returns. 
The curved resultants connect up the series, and again we find the 
result is clear and convincing. ‘The bottom waters appear to flow 
into the North Sea through the Shetland-Orkney channel, and while 
part eddies round Sumbur gh Head and apparently continues flowing 
in a north-east direction, “the main stream flows to the southward 
into the Moray Firth, and along the east coast of Scotland, an 
indraught into Ye Firth of Forth being well marked. 
In fie vicinity of the Long Forties a branch from this southerly 
flow trends to the eastward, and while this east- -going stream 
apparently sweeps right across to the Skagerak, the main stream 
bends sharply to the northward and flows with increased velocity 
along the Norwegian coast. 
The cyclonic system of deep currents which by our first 
investigation resolved itself into a more or less circular shape, with 
a small central axis situated somewhat to the south of the Bressay 
Shoal, appears now to be considerably elongated, the major axis, 
or lane of apparently still water, extending along the meridian of 
Greenwich for about 60 miles. To the westward of the Prime 
Meridian the flow is to the southward, and in the east longitude there 
is a relatively rapid flow to the northward, these two opposite 
streams being separated by only some 30 miles. 
The number of observations obtained on each side of this neutral 
line is fairly numerous, which adds considerably to the reliability 
of the curve. It would seem from the resultant of Area 51, 
obtained, however, froma single observation, as if the curve closed 
at the Bressay Shoal, but I would hesitate at this stage to make this 
suggestion more emphatic. Two bottles, Nos. 28 (4) and (B), were 
put away at the same time and place near the north-east corner of 
Area 60; one travelled to the north-west into Area 51, while the 
other was carried eastward into Area 61, so that the degree of 
dependence to be placed on the resultant of Area 51 is somewhat 
doubtful. 
Tue WESTERN AREAS. 
No information regarding the bottom currents in the western 
areas was derived from the first experiment, as no bottles were put 
away in this region, but it was hoped that some interesting 
information of these less fr equented waters would be obtained from 
the present series of experiments. Consequently, 100 bottles were 
put away from 13 different positions lying to the westward of the 
Orkney Islands, but only 16 of them were recovered. The probable 
route followed by these bottles is shewn on Chart IT., which also 
exhibits the probable track of those found on distant coasts. 
Groups 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 each consisted of 10 hottles, 
the remaining six groups being each composed of five bottles, the 
usual number put away at one Tine. Of Group 7, three drifted to 
the eastward, and were washed up on the west coast of Shetland, 
