o) the Fisher// Board for Scotland. 



405 



3. OBSERVATIONS ON THE WEST COAST, 1891. 

 Ardrishaig. 



The observations are made from the stone pier at this station, which is 

 situated near the head of the Central Division of the Arran Basin of the 

 Clyde Sea Area at the great bend in what is termed " Loch Fyne " on the 

 charts. 



The mean surface temperature for the year was 9*2 at 9 a.m. and 9*5 at 

 3 p.m., very little lower than that for 1890. 



The water was hottest during the month of July, having a mean tem- 

 perature of 13°'l at 9 a.m. and 13° 7 at 3 p.m. ; and it was coldest in 

 January,* being 5°'l in morning and 5° - 5 in afternoon. The mean range 

 of monthly temperature in the early part of the day was thus 8°"0, in 

 the afternoon 8°*2. 



The maximum temperature reading was 14°*6 at 9 a.m. on September 

 12, and the minimum was 5°'0 on March 12 and April 6 ; but a reading 

 4 0, 6 ? was obtained in January — a total range of 9°*6 compared with 

 12° -5 for 1890. 



The curve of temperature obtained by plotting ten-day means (PL 

 XVIII. fig. 1) is very irregular, but shows clearly the rise in February 

 and the depression in March common to all stations. In August there is a 

 minimum after the July maximum, and a second but lower maximum is 

 reached in September. After that date the temperature of the water rapidly 

 sinks. 



Brodick. 



The observations here are made from the end of the iron pier at 10 

 a.m. and 4 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. as at other stations. The 

 mean annual temperature was 9°*3 in the forenoon and 9°:7 in the after- 

 noon, very little higher than at Ardrishaig, yet not so great as West Locli 

 Tarbert, but again considerably greater than at East Coast Stations except 

 Oxcar. The mean for 1891 is half a degree below that for previous nine 

 months. 



In the morning the water was warmest in August and September, giving 

 a mean of 1 2° *6 each month, and coldest in March, 5°*8, while in the 

 afternoon the water averaged 13 o- 0 in August and 6 o, 0 in March (PL 

 XVIII. fig. 1). Owing to the warmth of the water in winter the mean 

 range is low, being only 6°*8 in morning and 7 o, 0 in afternoon, the smallest 

 mean variation, and approached only by the Bell Rock. 



The extreme range is 11 0, 2, the maximum temperature of 15° "2 

 occurring on August 5, and the minimum of 4 o, 0 on the morning of 

 March 11. 



The curve of temperature plotted from ten-day means is much more 

 regular than that of Ardrishaig, but shows the same second minimum in 

 March and second maximum in September. (PL XVIII. fig. 1.) 



West Loch Tarbert. 



Observations were begun at the beginning of the year at this station, 

 which is situated near the head of the loch, the exact point of observation 

 varying from time to time within narrow limits, according to the part of 

 the oyster banks on which the observer is employed. They are made only 

 once a day — at 3 p.m. 



The mean annual temperature of surface water- was 9°*9, that of the 



The readings for January 1-10, 1891, were a little uncertain. 



