Hydrographical Observations, North Atlantic, 1903 and 1904 103 



but at a much later date, and with less intensity. A wedge of water 

 of salinity over 35"5 lies with its axis passing almost directly through 

 Stations F4 and F9, and the same axis of maximum salinity passes 

 through Stations Sc. 19a and Sc. 15a, although the actual values are 

 lower. A quantity of water of salinity over 35*5 also appears at the 

 bottom at Station F2, Section III. ; and at Station E16, Section V., 

 there is a maximum of salinity (over 35 - 5) at a depth of about 

 120 fathoms. If we compare the May and August observations at the 

 International Stations Sc. 19a and Sc. 15a, we find that while salinity 

 is higher at the former station in August than in May, at the latter 

 station it is lower. 



Again, in Section VI., water of salinity less than 35 - 5 appears at 

 the surface (Stations E12 and E13) to the north of the shallow area 

 which extends westwards to the Porcupine Bank. 



The general situation would seem to be that after the month of 

 May there was a decided movement of salt water — salinity about 

 35-6 per mille — towards the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, and 

 that this water banked itself up and flowed partly downwards (note the 

 isohalines of 35 - 3 and 35 - 2 in Section VI.) and partly northwards into 

 the Faeroe- Shetland Channel. At the date of the observations the 

 northward movement had almost ceased, and water from the Nor- 

 wegian sea was making its way southward along the eastern side of 

 the Faeroe- Shetland Channel. It can be traced from north to south 

 as follows : 



International Faeroe-Shetlancl, Section II., Stations Sc. 14a and Sc. 13a. 

 „ „ Section I., Station Sc. 19b. 



Sihier Belle, Section III., Stations Fl and F2. 

 ,, ,, V., Station E16. 



,, „ VI., Stations E12 and El 3. 



Some importance may be attached to the increased steepness of 

 the gradients of temperature and of salinity off the Continental shelf 

 at a depth of about 700 to 800 fathoms. If we compare the salinities 

 at Station E5, 1903, with Stations 2 and 5, 1904, it is noticeable that 



