158 



considerable distnnces in either direction. The geoe-rsphlc factor 

 also argues against the vicinit-^^ of New Haven, or against any other 

 site on Long Island Sound, hoth because of the considerable distance 

 it would be necessary to run in order to reac" the ooen sea, and be- 

 cause of the uni:''ormity of conditions for considerable distances in 

 both directions along that sector of f-^e continental shelf. 



It may be stated without f\-'_rther argument that the sector froTi 

 Ccpe Cod to Halifax, ITova Gcotia offers geographic advantages for 

 such an institution that not onl-^'' make it the logical choice on the ■ 

 American coastline, but which are unique for their general illust- 

 rative value. This results from the topograph"" of the coastline, 

 and of the neighboring parts of the continental shel,^, as well ns 

 from the fact f'- ^t in only one other region (around the Grand Banl-rs 

 of Nev/ found land) is so sudden transition to be met from co]d coast- 

 al waters on the one hand, to tropical oceanic on the other, or as 

 great a contrast to be found as along the edge of t-'is sector of 

 the Horth American continent. 



These contrasting waters include the so-called. "Gulf Stream" 

 (most discussed of ocean currents), typical coast and banks waters; 

 an ice chilled spring current of coastal origin: the zone of manu- 

 factur-;^ for the so-called "slope water". And a few da^^s s.-..il brings 

 one to the Labrador current, one of the best de^'^eloped of t^^e Arctic 

 overflows. The ease with which the zones of transition from one 

 kind o'P wator to another can be reached from headquarters an"'"'/''-r^ere 

 from_ Cape Cod to Halifax, and t^''e fact that so few features dominate 

 the local oce'^-nographic situation, m.akes it easier here t'^an per- 

 haps an^nvhere e^.se in tVe woi Id to investigate the complicated ex- 

 periments th^t are carried out by nature on a magnificent scale. 

 We include not only the biological phenomena associated with t]je 

 zones ^vhere i''aters of widel" different character nix (phenom.ena re- 

 flected in the extraordinar-^^ richness of the animal cor.munities a-^d 

 in the great productivitv of the off shore fishing banks of this 

 region), but also t>^e opportunity- to interpret internal h-rd.ro-dynp - 

 mic forces in terms of circrl?' tion, opened here b"- the very wide 

 variations in the specific gravity of the waters to be met within 

 short distances. The ivide varietur as to the phvsical conditions 

 of the waters, ond as to the topogranhy of the bottom, condensed 

 into the small area of f'^e Gulf of Maine and its vicinitA'', could 

 hardl-"- be matched elsewhere. 



Here the student finds deep trou^'-'S freelv open to t'ae ocean: 

 enclosed basins: a m.ost varied co-^stline including deeplv dissected 

 hays. Archipelago Islands, ard lone- sand^^ benches; off shore banks 

 of grejt extent which are the site of som:e of the most important 

 fisheries of the "'orld; and a straigjit steep oceanic slope to the 

 abyss. Here, wlt'~in short distances, he can trace the transition 

 from regions of extreme turbulence to others v/here a high degree of 

 stabilit'- develops in the su'im.er. Here, too, he sees a wide season- 

 al range of temperature in some regions and depths, but in other 

 regions and depths almost uniform conditions f-r ouch out the year. 

 The absolute thermial range 'vitiiin f'is sector is from tem.peratur-e 

 below the freezing point of fresh water to v"Jues almost tropical: 

 thers is a wide ""'ariation in the fertility of the waters for "celagr'.c 

 plants as reflected by t^^e duration of their periods of mi?ss pro- 



