CLYDE SEA AREA. 683 



lasted over the 27th and until the afternoon of the 28th, when it gradually moderated, 

 and on the 29th and 30th the conditions were anticyclonic, calm and hazy. On the 31st 

 another severe gale commenced, putting a stop to observations in the East Arran Basin, 

 and compelling the "Medusa" to take shelter in Lamlash Bay for two days. During 

 this trip there was a general increase of salinity at all depths, and at all stations, except 

 those in Loch Fyne. They were distinctly fresher than in the previous months ; the 

 densities at Cuill, Strachur, Furnace, and Otter being the lowest recorded during the 

 whole period of investigation ; and at all, except Strachur, the bottom salinity was also at 

 a minimum. The bottom water of Loch Goil, and most of the Dunoon Basin, was also at 

 its minimum of salinity. When Loch Fyne was examined, a light south-west wind was 

 blowing up, which might partially account for the diminished salinity, but as the wind 

 had been much stronger and almost directly down-loch for the two previous days, it 

 seems more reasonable to assign the freshness of the water rather to a large influx of 

 drainage than to damming-back. This is confirmed by the precisely similar state of 

 things in Loch Goil, the only other mountain-girdled basin examined during this trip ; 

 and the heavy snow-wreaths which fed the mountain streams in these districts fully 

 accounted for the freshening. The low surface salinity at Otter is specially noticeable — 

 only 1*02383 — while the bottom density at the same place was 1*02451, showing a much 

 greater range than usual, but partly accounted for by the fact that the tide was half-ebb, 

 and the current hurrying through the narrows was mainly composed of the freshened 

 surface water of the loch. 



Salinity Trip of May 1887. — This trip, taking place forty-one days after the last, 

 occupied from the 6th to the 11th, omitting the 8th and 9th, and it took account only of 

 the landward portion of the area as regards salinity, the sea being too rough in the Arran 

 Basin to allow of density determinations being made. The rainfall during April was 

 very nearly the average for the season, exceeding it over many parts of the Cfyde 

 drainage area, and snow fell on several occasions. The first week of May Was dry, and 

 no rain was observed during the trip, which was characterised by light and variable 

 breezes, increasing to half a gale from the west on the 9th. There was a general 

 increase in salinity everywhere, all parts of the area coming up to their average con- 

 dition. There was a diminution of surface density in the Gareloch, Loch Goil, and Loch 

 Strivan, but a marked increase in the salinity of water at the bottom in those basins. In 

 Loch Fyne the density had noticeably increased both at surface and bottom. The 

 salinity increased slightly on the surface from the mouth to the head of Loch Long. The 

 weather at the time was calm, and it is impossible to find out whether a down-loch wind 

 had been blowing on the previous days, although, from the distribution of density, one 

 would be inclined to believe this 'was the case. 



Salinity Trip of June 1887. — This trip took place after an interval of thirty-eight 

 days, and continued from the 13th to 18th. On account of the remarkably fine weather, 

 density observations were made in unusual number, and the data are exceptionally trust- 

 worthy. During May the rainfall for the district had been much below the average for 



