20 JOHAN HJORT. M.-N. Kl. 



outwards, in a South West direction, and also flows seawards for a 

 considerable distance before its influence on the salineness of the super- 

 ficial waters disappears entirely.« If this be the case, we have, there- 

 fore, in the North a coastal current which, like the Baltic Current in the 

 South, conveys fresh water layers, but in an opposite direction, whilst, 

 according to Mohn, the Baltic Current in the North continues its course 

 along the coast. As I am entirely devoid of the results of investiga- 

 tions during the Summer in the North, I dare not express any opinion 

 on the conditions of the currents there, but hope to be able to return 

 to the said subject in a subsequent work. 



Whilst the Baltic Current is thus of great extent on the surface, its 

 thickness in the ocean is but insignificant. From the section made by the 

 Swedish Scientists, Arendal to the Scaw, and Øster Risør to the Scaw, 

 between the 6th and 9th July 1877 (Table i, Section I & 11)1, q^ç. ^-^ 

 see that the thickness of the current in the middle of the Skagerak is only 

 about 20 mètres, whilst in by the coast it is about 40 mètres thick. 

 Tornee met with similar experience. He says: — »The influence of 

 such fresh water proceeding from the coast is chiefly confined to a very 

 small depth, as both from these, as from previously published investiga- 

 tions of like nature, it appears that a fresh layer flowing over salter 

 water possesses the remarkable power of remaining for long comparati- 

 vely unadulterated, so that the consequent dilution of the surface from 

 the coast outwards can often be traced for from 120 to 160 miles to 

 sea, whilst on the bottom in the neighbourhood of land, and even in 

 the Fjords themselves, very salt water may be found.« 



From PI. I, Fig. i, it will be perceived, that the depth of the cur- 

 rent on the West Coast was, in August 1894, about 40 mètres. This 

 has been the case at all the stations on the West Coast I have had an 

 oppotunity of visiting during Summer-time. Beneath the Baltic Current 

 the Bank Water is found. As will be seen, this is of very little thickness, 

 which may, possibly, be more clearly perceived by the figures from 

 Station No. i. 



Thus, at Station No. i, it appears that the saline contents are as 

 follows : 



at 40 mètres 31.99 per 1000. 

 - 50 — 34-36 — 



The difference in the salineness between the depths of 40 and 50 

 mètres is thus 2.37 per 1000. Under the Bank Water we find in Fig. i. 



1 Outlines &c. Loc. cit. 



2 P. 67. 



