538 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



divides into two arms at the west coast of Norway, one of which turns 

 to the Murmanian coast, the other, west of Bear's Island, to the west 

 coast of Spitzbergen. Concerning this second arm in winter-time, the 

 Albert expedition has collected new information based upon positive 

 observations. These show that the temperature diminishes to the east- 

 ward toward Bear's Island and East Spitzbergen. To the westward we 

 find as limits of the warm water the isothermal of 0° (32° F.), which runs 

 in a nearly north-south direction along the 10° and 11° longitude from 

 the 73° to the 76° latitude ; farther south it seems to turn to the west 

 toward Jan Mayen. To the east of this curve for 0° (32° F.) the iso-- 

 thermal of 1°, 2°, and 3° (33.8°, 35.GO, 37.4° F.) are in pretty close prox- 

 imity, indicating that the warm water has cooled off in a higher degree 

 toward the limits of the icy water of the polar current. The observa- 

 tions of deep-sea temperatures made by the French expedition to Spitz- 

 bergen have shown that the warm water, without ever cooling below 

 (P {32° F.), occupies the whole depth of the sea between Norway, Bear's 

 Island, and Spitzbergen; and, according to the assertion of Captain 

 Otto, the experienced Norwegian seamen are well acquainted with the 

 above-named current in spring and summer. From Captain Otto's 

 observations it is positively ascertained that a warm current also at the 

 beginning of winter is running west of Bear's Island to the western 

 coast of Spitzbergen. 



Eoss, on the contrary, found that in Baffin's Bay, between 63° 49' and 

 75° 44' north latitude, the temiierature of the water was above freezing- 

 only during thirty-one days in the months of June, July, August, and Sep- 

 tember; the rest of the time it was always below. The maximum was 

 -f 1.11° C. = 34° F.; the minimum — 1.11° C. = 30° F. In deep water, 

 however, the temperature during July and August was constantly above 

 0, even at the greatest depth sounded, that of 3045 feet. As the tem- 

 perature of the Arctic Ocean remains constant in great depths all the 

 year round, it is easy to see how it can be the abode of many marine 

 forms occurring there in deep water which in the North Atlantic Ocean 

 are found near the surface or in its shallower parts. No fishes have 

 been found up to the present time on the west coast of Greenland, near 

 Hall's Land, in 81° 38' north latitude, although nets and hooks have 

 peeu used for the purpose; but the sea abounds in marine invertebrates, 

 such as mollusca and Crustacea, so that food for fishes is not wanting. 

 The water at the Arctic region probably contains not more than 3 to 4 

 per cent, of salt; the general amount is about 3.3 per cent. The aver- 

 age depth of the Arctic Sea is very likely not more than 2,000 feet, and 

 though near Spitzbergen a depth of 6,000 to 7,000 feet has been found, 

 yet the water is very shallow along the Asiatic coast, the greatest depth 

 north of the Behring Strait being only 220 fathoms = 1,320 feet. In 77° 

 2' north latitude and 107° 40' east longitude from Greenwich the depth 

 is 245 feet English. The shallowest part in the Charles Foreland Sound, 

 79° 53' north latitude, 16° 15' 5" east longitude from Greenwich, has a 



