32 WAVES OF THE SEA 



and the calculated wave-length in deep water for 

 a period of 4.7 seconds is 113 feet. The length 

 of run possible at the town of Geneva, which is 

 situated at the lower extremity of the lake, is 

 43 statute miles, and the wave-length corresponding 

 to a period of 5 seconds is 128 feet. At Morges, 

 therefore, the length of the storm -waves was 

 1-1261 of the length of the series and at Geneva 

 1-1774. If we suppose the wind blowing down 

 the lake, and at the Geneva end making waves 

 128 feet long, then if we take as before the average 

 length of waves on the lake to be one -half as 

 long, the number of the waves in the series, from 

 end to end of the lake, is 3,548. 



The following heights of waves on the lake are 

 recorded by Thos. Stevenson x as having been 

 observed by Buckie at the distances stated from 

 windward shore, viz. : 



Height of Wave Length of Fetch 



in feet. in miles. 



7-0 31 



7-0 ... 38 



8.0 38 



8.0 40 



1 Vide article, u Harbours," " Encyclopaedia Britannica," gth 

 edition. Of all the bodies of water cited by Stevenson in his 

 table of the increase of height with length of fetch, the Lake of 

 Geneva is the only one which is wholly enclosed. Many of 

 the others are, moreover, shallow or affected by strong currents. 



