Dr Sutherland on Currents in the Arctic Seas. 293 



may not become a saturated solution of the salts of the 

 ocean ; and infers that counter currents into the polar seas 

 must also exist to obviate the contrary tendency which the 

 waters of these seas have to become fresh. He calls atten- 

 tion to the importance of ascertaining the differences that 

 occur in many parts of the surface of the ocean in respect to 

 its saline contents, that we may be enabled to determine to 

 what extent the currents and counter-currents may be influ- 

 enced by the comparative freshness of the iced water of the 

 northern and southern regions, and the necessary saltness of 

 the equatorial and other over-heated basins. On this point, 

 with respect to the Arctic seas, he refers to observations by 

 Dr Scoresby, Sir Edward Parry, and those recorded in tables 

 appended to his paper, which have been extracted from the 

 Meteorological Journal kept in the North Atlantic and Davis's 

 Straits during the late voyage in the Isabel. 



The author next refers to the remarkable difference occur- 

 ring in the climate of the east and west sides of Davis's Straits, 

 that of the latter being much the colder. In the absence 

 of thermometric registers for the west, to compare with those 

 on the east side, he points out how the appearance of the 

 land, and development of plants and land animals on the two 

 coasts, enable us to determine which has the warmer climate. 

 Looking from the top of Baffin's Bay, which commands a 

 good view of both shores, the east side at the sea-coast has 

 many portions of land free from snow ; whereas the opposite, 

 by its snowy and icy covering, presents an appearance al- 

 together uncongenial. On the former are found a tolerably 

 abundant flora, hares, and deer ; on the latter there scarce 

 appears to be a spot to receive the roots of plants or the feet 

 of these animals ; and in the productions of the sea, both 

 vegetable and animal, the same disproportion is met with. 

 Upon the whole, he considers complete the analogy that ex- 

 ists between the North Atlantic and Davis's Straits, both 

 with respect to the climate of their shores, and to their inha- 

 bitants of the animal and vegetable kingdoms. With refer- 

 ence to the question how this analogy is brought about, the 

 author considers it difficult to decide whether the increase in 

 the temperature of the water, and the consequent improve- 



