— 129 - 



JOHS. SCHMIDT 



and temperature of over 5" tills the greater part of the nortliern areas in the centre of the 

 North Sea, reaching as far south as to ca. 55° N. L. 



The hydrographical conditions at the bottom at this season agree on the whole with 

 those at the surface. Thus we also have the lowest temperatures and salinities in the 

 eastern part and the highest in the northern and north-western part. The latter is due 



Fig. 9. Distribution of salinities and temperatures at the surface of the sea 

 during the months of February and March 1906. 35-2 = 35-2 "ho. 



to the fact that the water has its origin in the Atlantic. In the most southern part of 

 the North Sea, the Flemish Bight, the influence of the Atlantic water makes itself felt 

 through the Channel, so that we also find high salinities here (over 35 or even over 

 35'2 "loo) and high temperatures (over 5° — 6°), as can be seen from figs. 9 and 10. 



Altogether it may be said that the highest temperatures and salinities 

 both at the surface and bottom in the North Sea during the spawning 



17 



