282 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



rather different state of affairs. In the great majority of 

 cases the water was considerably Salter during 1913 than 

 during 1912, while at the same time there was generally 

 a greater difference between the maximum and minimum 

 salinity at any one Station. 



The water in our area of the Irish Sea was found to 

 be astonishingly uniform and of relatively high salinity 

 during the November* cruise of 1913. The salinity at 

 all the Stations (with the two exceptions of Stations 1 and 

 24) was found to be over 34 °/ 00 — at 18 Stations being 

 34-2 °/ 00 or over. 



On the whole it would seem that the " Drift " through 

 our area in 1913 (and the salinity changes thereby pro- 

 duced) bore more resemblance to that of 1912 than of any 

 other year since we started observations in 1906. That 

 this would probably be the case was foreseen in last year's 

 report. It was also suggested that, in view of the close 

 connection which appeared to exist between the hydro- 

 graphic conditions in the Irish Sea and the weather, we 

 should experience another bad summer in 1913, similar 

 to that of 1912. This expectation was not fulfilled, for 

 the summer months were unusually dry, instead of wet. 

 At the same time, however, it was not what many people 

 consider very fine weather owing to its coolness and lack 

 of sunshine. The prevalence of northerly and easterly 

 winds was remarkable. 



It is possible that this lack of agreement between 

 anticipation and result may indicate the complete break- 

 down of the connection between hydrographic conditions 

 in the Irish Sea and the weather which I have tried to 

 trace during the past six years. I am loth to believe this, 

 however, and think it more probable that there is some 

 further factor which is not yet understood. What this 

 * Actually October 27 — November 1. 



