SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 69 



of the last year is directly traceable to tlie late arrival of 

 the Gulf Stream Drift, coupled with its unusually low 

 temperature (due probably to greater admixture with 

 Arctic water of low salinity)" ; and bases upon this the 

 proposition that, after further work, it may prove possible 

 to predict the general character of the summer and 

 autumn of any year from hydrographic observations made 

 during February and March in the Irish Sea and English 

 Channel, and similarly the probable nature of the 

 succeeding winter, from observations made during the 

 summer. 



In his second paper, Dr. Bassett discusses fully the 

 view which he had referred to in former reports that there 

 is a flow of water from South to North through the Irish 

 Sea. He points out that some writers on hydrographical 

 conditions in British seas seem to think that exactly the 

 reverse current exists ; and then he gives his data leading 

 to the conclusion that, without any doubt, the water does 

 actually flow from South to North through the Irish Sea 

 as a whole — the current passing to the East of the Isle of 

 Man. 



Plankton. 



My own contribution to this Eeport is the result of 

 almost continuous daily work at sea during the Easter 

 and a part of the summer vacation, testing plankton nets 

 and other apparatus, and collecting samples of the 

 organisms in the sea-water, along with samples of the 

 water at various depths and sea-temperatures. This work 

 was carried on from Port Erin as a centre, out to the 

 middle of the Channel between Ireland and the Isle of 

 Man and down to depths of 76 faths. In this work at sea, 

 and also in the subsequent laboratory work ashore, I have 



