54 A TEXTBOOK OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



oceanic currents is still very noticeable; and the same general 

 distribution of temperature rules in 600 metres depths (328 

 fathoms). At a little over 1,000 fathoms (2,000 metres) there 

 is a marked uniformity of temperature, between 2 and 3 C., 

 this being the case in the whole of the Pacific, South Indian, 

 and South-West Atlantic Oceans. At 2,000 fathoms the 

 average temperature is about r6 C. 



Genuine deep-sea fish such as Macrurus have a wide 

 geographical distribution ; nevertheless, this genus is confined 

 to water between 1 and 3 C. 



In the North Atlantic warm water extends down to much 

 greater depths on the east side (off Ireland) than on the west 

 side (off the North American coast). From 500 to 800 fathoms 

 it is much warmer on the east side, whereas from 1,000 to 

 2,000 fathoms the temperatures are similar on both sides. 



On the continental slope on the east side of the Atlantic 

 from the Faroes to the south of the Canaries the thermometrical 

 conditions are much the same. Thus at 500 fathoms the 

 temperature is 7 C. south of the Faroes and 8 C. south of 

 the Canaries. On the west side at this depth the temperature 

 is only 4 C. Commercial trawling has not yet been carried 

 on at this depth, and from the results of experimental trawling 

 by scientific vessels it does not appear that edible fish are likely 

 to be present in paying quantities. 



The Norwegian Sea has an extensive area with depths 

 above 1,000 fathoms inhabited by cold-water fish of little or 

 no commercial value. Below 350 to 400 fathoms the water is 

 extremely cold, mostly below o C. 



THE INTERNATIONAL HYDROGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



A very large number of temperature and other physical 

 observations on the seas of North- Western Europe have 

 recently been made under the auspices of the International 

 Council for the exploration of the sea from a fishery stand- 

 point. These records extend far out into the Atlantic and 



