SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 233 



March 16th, 1909. 



The data on this occasion are those of an inter- 

 mediate cruise, and there are no observations for the 

 Irish Sea to the West of the Calf-Holyhead line. But it 

 will be seen at once from fig. 26, which represents the 

 isotherms at this date, that the main factor affecting the 

 distribution of temperature is the now of water to the 

 North-east. The mean temperature of the whole area of 

 sea to the East and South-east of the Isle of Man is very 

 much the same as it was in February, and that of the sea 

 immediately adjacent to the coasts of North Wales, 

 Cheshire and Lancashire is rather less than in the former 

 month. But the isotherms are now curved more sharply 

 into Liverpool Bay, towards which their axes are directed, 

 and just North from Red Wharf Bay the gradient is very 

 steep. It will also be seen that there are now indications 

 of a flow of water to the North-west from the coast of 

 Lancashire, and also along the East side of the Isle of 

 Man. This latter drift is, however, comparatively feeble, 

 and the main drift of water from St. George's Channel 

 appears to be to the East, round the coast of Anglesey, 

 and then to the North from the estuary of the Eibble. 



May 6th, 1909. 



Eig. 27 represents the distribution of temperature 

 at the beginning of this month, and is constructed from 

 observations made over the entire area. There is greater 

 uniformity of conditions in this month than at any other 

 period of the year, and this is due to the fact that the 

 influence of the land is now exerted in the opposite 

 direction, as compared with the conditions in February 

 and March. The Gulf Stream Drift appears to have 

 attained its maximum development at the beginning of 

 this month, but the flow of water round Anglesey is not 



