163 



mixed and altered in character. It is difficult to state why such a 

 lively mixing should occur at this precise place. 



The presence of an apparently isolated core of icy water 6 miles 

 wide and 60 miles seaward from the Tail on the south section (profile 

 No. 17) is also difficult to account for satisfactorily. It may have 

 been a recurhng finger actually connected with icy water on the 

 slope, or may have set offshore from the main supply at the Tail. 



While navigating through the streak of northern water lying on 

 the east continental edge of the Grand Bank in October, careful and 

 frequent astronomical observations were taken, but no set or drift 

 could be detected. Hence, either the current was very weak or it 

 was so narrow that it did not affect the ship appreciably. It is 

 beheved both factors were involved. Two whales and several 

 shearwaters were seen feeding in this band of coldest water, which is a 

 characteristic sight in the spring of the year, when the Arctic current 

 teems with aU sorts of marine hfe. If this water was not flowing 

 south along the eastern edge at that particular time, October 25, 

 it certainly had been freighted to this locaHty, since it still held 

 abundant northern fauna. 



October 25 was a calm day, with smooth sea, when we steamed 

 on a course parallel with, and nearly over, the edge of the Bank. 

 A well-marked rip was visible running in a general north and south 

 direction and outhning the contour of the Bank as exactly as it could 

 be marked on a chart. The phenomenon may have been attributable 

 partly to the diurnal tidal wave meeting the obstacle of the Bank. 



It will be noticed by sketch No. 11 that warm Atlantic water 

 occupied the submarine valley which indents the east continental 

 slope of the Grand Bank at lat. 43° 40', long. 47° 15' and extended 

 weU inshore just below the surface. This condition was not so well 

 defined as during early spring, as evidenced by the sahnity of 35.4 %o 

 to 35.12 7oo and the temperature of 12° to 14°, but the fact that such 

 a tendency existed in October demonstrates that this state is not 

 characteristic of spring only. 



By contrast the Gulf Stream water (salinity 36.09 "/oo and tempera- 

 ture 18.4°) in the surface layers of the deep oceanic triangle west of 

 the Tail had worked farther north by October than we have ever 

 found it at any time during the spring or early summer. The last 

 observations, made June 3-4 (see profile No. 12), mark the beginning 

 of this movement, which had been assisted throughout the summer 

 by the prevailing southerly winds frictionally urging the surface 

 layers toward the continental slope. 



Dm-ing the period between June and October water of low salinity 

 but comparatively high temperature had continued to spread offshore 

 in the surface layers. This movement was most noticeable on the 

 west slope of the Bank, when water fresher than 33 7oo formed a 



