Old Ocean as a Builder 



places has undoubtedly risen and sunk, the ocean- 

 surface may have risen and sunk also. 



The ocean could not, indeed, like the land have 

 risen or sunk only in parts. Except where it is 

 forcibly held at a higher level by some strong 

 force of local attraction, this would be impossible. 

 Yet causes might exist which should affect the 

 whole ocean-surface. 



One such may be mentioned. The rising or 

 sinking of great tracts of land could not fail to 

 affect the ocean-level. 



That it must do so may be easily understood. 

 Let us fill a basin with water, to within an inch 

 of the brim, and then slowly lower into the water 

 a ball, or any other solid body. As the ball 

 enters, the level of the water rises must rise. 

 Then let us slowly lift the ball out again ; and as 

 it leaves the water, the level of the latter sinks 

 must sink. 



Precisely the same result would follow upon 

 the rising or sinking of some great continental 

 mass. When it rises, the ocean contains less 

 land, and the water-level must go down. When 

 it sinks, the ocean contains more land, and the 

 water-level must go up. 



This question has been long under discussion. 

 For many years, as with other questions, each 



