I 10 ALFRED IV. G. WILSON 



into a narrow funnel-shaped opening. Out on the open bay 

 very slight changes in level are occasionally noticeable, but no 

 records of their amounts are available. It may, however, be 

 stated that they are very slight, and at no time, except at the 

 upper part of the Napanee estuary has the writer been able to 

 determine the existence of any noticeable current due to this 

 cause. It may be stated that the currents in the bay produced 

 by this cause are not capable themselves of transporting any 

 of the material which is moved along the bay shore. It is true 

 that they may slightly accelerate or retard the currents which 

 are concerned in the active transportation, but they are much 

 too weak to be in any way considered as active and effective 

 agents in transportation. Where they have been observed at 

 their maximum the water is perfectly clear, although the bottom 

 is covered with a fine mud which settles rapidly when stirred. 



Approximate estimates as to the strength and importance of 

 the seiche currents can also be made at the Murray Canal. This 

 canal is four miles in length and connects the upper end of the 

 bay with Presqu'Isle Bay, this latter bay connecting directly 

 with the open lake. The crest of the seiche reaches Presqu'- 

 Isle Bay some hours before it reaches Kingston. Consequent 

 on the rising of the waters at Presqu'Isle Bay a current sets in 

 eastward through the canal to the head of the Bay of Quinte. 

 Some hours later the crest of the wave advancing from the 

 Kingston end of the bay, having had about iio miles farther to 

 travel, reaches the head of the bay, and occasionally may start a 

 current through the canal in the opposite direction. Unfortu- 

 nately, it has not been possible to carry on simultaneous 

 observations at several points on the bay, nor at any one point 

 continuously for a long enough period to establish the time rela- 

 tions of these oscillations. The existence of the currents through 

 the canal has been established. These currents in the canal are 

 farther complicated by wind-action which generates surface cur- 

 rents. From observations made during periods of calm weather 

 the author would infer that the current to be attributed to the 

 seiche alone rarely exceeds five miles per day. It must be noted 

 that until careful quantitative observations are made there can be 



