THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



91 



THE TK.MI'KKAI IKK AND SAI.INITV OF TIIK WATER OE NEW YORK 

 lIARIiOR AT THE UATTERV. 



A glance at the following table shows that the niunthh' mean 

 temperatures from June i to November 30 were distinctly higher 

 in 1908 than those of preceding years for the same period. The 

 monthly means of specific gravities show a higher density 

 (salinity) from September i to December 31 than those previ- 

 ously recorded. The higher temperature and density of the wa- 

 ter of the harbor during the jiast summer and autiunn are un- 

 doidotedly due to the extreme dryness which prevailed during 

 those seasons. 



Although the new reservoir of stored sea water was ])ut into 

 regidar use on July 9, some of the floor pools are still supplied 

 with water from the harbor. In these pools the effect of the 

 higher salinity was perceptible in the better condition of the 

 fishes kept in them ; although the results are in no way com- 

 paraltlc with those secured in those tanks supplied from the reser- 

 voir. In the latter, the salinity has remained steady at about 

 1. 02 1 and the water was moreover, absolutely pure and free from 

 the bad effects of sewage with which the harbor water is per- 

 meated. 



Record of monthly mean temperatures and specific gravities 

 at the Xew York Aquarium during the years 1903, 1904. 1905, 

 1906. IQO/, and 1908. (From daily observations made by Mr. 

 W. I. DeNyse.)* 



1903 



1904 



Q.1-. 



a) ? 





1905 



E" 

 1 1 



1906 



1907 



1908 



U!^ Mi* 



'E- 



a. u 



January.., 

 February , 



March 40 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 62 



November, 

 December , 



.012 I 41 



014 

 013 

 010 



.011 i 54 

 .013 6.'> 



015 

 016 

 015 

 012 

 010 

 Oil 



1.011 

 1.012 

 1.010 

 1.009 

 1.010 

 1.014 

 1.016 

 1.016 

 1.017 

 1.018 

 1.018 

 1.017 



* Density observations were made with samples of water brought to a 

 temperature of 60 degrees Fahr. 



