SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 147 



found during November. This is what we have found to 

 be the case in December, 1911, and it represents, I 

 believe, the more usual state of affairs. Since, moreover, 

 the high values of the salinities on February 14th, 1912, 

 at the three chief stations (Station V, 34'65 ; Station VI, 

 34-47 ; Station VII, 34-38) indicate that they will almost 

 certainly prove to be the maximum values at these 

 stations for 1912, I have little hesitation in saying that 

 the summer of 1912 will probably be like neither the 

 brilliant dry one of 1911 nor the gloomy wet ones of 1909 

 and 1910, but just one of the somewhat variable and 

 uncertain summers which are usually experienced in 

 this country. 



It is worthy of note that the salinities found during 

 February, 1912, are the highest we have observed since 

 commencing hydrographic observations in 1906. This 

 indicates the presence of an unusual amount of warm 

 water in the North Atlantic, and it is probable that the 

 wet and unsettled character of the winter and spring 

 months which liave just passed is directly traceable to 

 this, for the presence of warm water is regarded by 

 hydrograpliers as favourable to the formation of cyclones. 



Further work is still needed to show if the intimate 

 connection, which seems to exist between the state of the 

 Gulf Stream Drift and the succeeding summer weather, 

 will hold over a long period. The question is so 

 important that it would be a great pity if anything 

 should prevent its accomplishment, and if it is not 

 possible for the Fisheries' Steamer to collect the water 

 samples regularly, then some other arrangements ought 

 to be made. 



Mr. J. Johnstone, B.Sc, collected the water 

 samples and made the temperature observations 

 as usual during 1911, while I have carried out the 



