658 



BULLETIN OF THE BUKEAU OF FISHERIES 



state, with two distinct cold centers — the one along shore between Boston Harbor 

 and Plymouth ( — 0.5° to 0°), the other in the southeastern part of Cape Cod Bay. 

 These very low temperatures in the southeastern part of Cape Cod Bay and along 

 the Marshfield-Plymouth shore (<0°) are colder than any previously recorded for 

 the open waters of the Gulf of Maine. However, judging from the fact that the mean 

 temperature of the air had been close to normal during the preceding month, and 

 the sno^vfall unusually light, these parts of the bay may be expected to chill to as low 

 a figure as this during most winters. 



Probably the northern side of the bay is never as cold as its southern part is in 

 February, for on February 7, 1925, the temperature was 1.67° only a mile out from 

 the mouth of Gloucester Harbor, though lower ( — 0.56°) within the latter; and 



SraT/ons 



Fig. 83.— Temperature profile running from the Marshfleld shore out into Massachusetts Bay, January 6 and 7, 2925 {Fish 



Sawlc stations 2 and 16) 



readings of 2.83° on the surface and 3.11° at 82 meters 7 miles off Gloucester on 

 February 13, 1913 (station 10053), are probably normal for the mouth of the bay at 

 this date. 



The mid-level proved colder than either the surface or the bottom in Massachu- 

 setts Bay on February 6 and 7, 1925, at 12 out of the 15 stations (fig. 82). At the 

 same time the coldest stratum lay at a depth of 30 to 35 meters at the offshore 

 line (Fish HawTc cruise 6, stations 19, 18, 2, and 4) but within 10 to 15 meters of the 

 surface near the Plymouth-Marshfield shore. 



Profiles running out from the land off Marshfield for January 6 and 7 (fig. 83) 

 and for February 6 and 7 (fig. 84) show a very interesting succession, with the 



