AND OTHER WATER WAVES 35 



height, which is nearly the same as that (13) found 

 for an exceptional storm on Coniston Water. 



WAVES IN SEMI-ENCLOSED SEAS OF CONSIDERABLE 



DEPTH 



Waves in the Western Mediterranean 



The Western Mediterranean is about 1,000 

 statute miles from east to west, but its area is 

 somewhat broken up by islands. The depths are 

 great and the tidal currents small, so that observa- 

 tions of waves are useful for the determination of 

 dimensions due to the mere action of wind on deep 

 water. 



On April 7, 1899, I sailed from Marseilles at 

 4 p.m. on the Orient liner Orizaba, bound for 

 Naples, the weather being fair. Next morning, 

 the 8th, when nearing the Straits of Bonifacio, 

 there was a heavy sea directly following the ship, 

 the wind having risen during the night and having 

 now the force of a moderate gale. The waves 

 were not running in a single series of parallel 

 ridges, but with a good deal of crossing, and the 

 characteristic feature of the scene was the number 

 of bursting billows of more or less pyramidal form 

 produced by the meeting at an acute angle of 

 waves running not quite in the same direction, 



