high, at values of 3QX0, when compared with oceanic conditions. 

 Even the Gulf of Oman only occasionally in its northwestern part 

 gets over 3TX=, and at Ras al Hadd the average observed value 

 should he at most 36. 5^= and possihly even less, since along the 

 southern coast of Arabia there is a heterogeneous cold and low- 

 saline water which usually comes from the depth up to the surface 

 ( Reference 7) . . . , " 



The following excerpts (translated from German) are taken from 

 Reference J, pages i^-00-401. 



"For the Persian Gulf, reliahle surface salinity data were 

 ohtalned for the first time in I907 when, during the months of 

 February and May-June, officers of the Hamhurg-American Line col- 

 lected water samples for titrimetric determination of salinity 

 ( Reference 3 ) » These observations "become useful (for analysis) 

 when complemented by the observations taken in the years 19IO and 

 1911 because out of the total of 25 water samples, only three 

 were taken in May and three in October; the remaining samples 

 were all taken in September ( presumably 19IO-II. Ed, ). The Sep- 

 tember observations are regularly scattered throughout the area, 

 so that one can obtain an insight to the salinity distribution 

 during this month. 



"Just as in February and May- June, the salinity in September 

 increases from east to west, and by following the 39.5Xo isohaline 

 which runs approximately from Ras Rekkan (the most northern point 

 of the Qatar Peninsula) up to Kangan, Persia ( now Iran. Ed. ), the 

 Persian Gulf may be divided into a less saline eastern and a more 

 saline western half. Toward the east, the salinity decreases in 

 the Strait of Hormuz down to between 38.22^ and 3T.43^o . West of 

 the 39 •5^ isohaline, however, the salinity increases off Bushire 

 to UO.90^. Two additional olDservations of over ^oX" indicate 

 that the Persian coast, from approximately 52° E. up to Shatt al 

 Arab, is bordered by a lens of water of over kO/L salinity. This 

 appears to be true also in February and May-June, and salinities 

 may be over kO^ throughcmt the year in the northeastern part of 

 the Gulf. 



"The observed differences in salinities for September and for 

 February and May- June are considerable. The generally valid assump- 

 tion that salinity in September is higher than in June, but lower 

 than in February is evident; thus, September can be considered as 

 a transitional period between the months of salinity extremes. This 

 can be seen from the following observations taken at approximately 

 the same locations in February and June I9OT and in September 

 1911 . . . ." 



27 



