of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
?71 
spread in a shallow layer over the sand, and therefore the range of tem- 
perature obtained is probably greater than that of the more open water of 
the Arran Basin and Loch Fyne, in which fishing is carried on. This is 
not altogether a drawback, as the great range gives prominence to the 
seasonal variations, and suggests points for further investigation. 
The average temperature for 1890 was 9°*4 at 9 a.m. and 9° "8 at 
3 P.M ; figures which are about half a degree higher than those observed 
on the east coast, and for the first three months of 1891 the morning 
temperature averaged 5° "9, the afternoon temperature being 6°*1. The 
average range between morning and afternoo 0°'4, was equal to that at 
the Oxcar Lighthouse, and greater than any other on the east coast. 
The highest temperature recorded in 1890 was 16°-1 at 3 p.m. on 
August 1st, the lowest 3°'6 at 9 a.m. on February 14th. In 1891 on 
several days the temperature was given as 0°'6, but this was almost 
certainly due to local cooling. Taking the year 1890 alone we find the 
total range between summer and winter to be 12°'5, a range only equalled 
by that at the Abertay Light-vessel. The curve of ten-day temperature 
means for 9 a.m. (Diagram II. Plate XVII.), shows considerable irregularity 
in the changes of temperature, but presents a well marked maximum in the 
beginning of August, and equally distinct minima at the end of winter, 
these occurring in the middle of February 1890 and in the beginning of 
January 1891. 
The curve of monthly means on Diagram IV. is regular on the whole, 
but its form suggests that the mean for May 1890 is rather too high, and 
that for J uly in the same year rather too low. It brings out very clearly 
the August maximum and the February or January minimum. 
The daily range of temperature from morning to afternoon in the warm 
months — May to October — was, on the average of the monthly means, 
0°-45, and in the cold months — November to April— it was only 0°-24, 
showing that the heating effect of the sun in summer is twice as great as 
in winter. 
It seems undesirable ^to classify the west coast observations with 
respect to the tides until there is a greater quantity of material to work 
upon. The tidal efi"ect does not seem from the observations to be nearly 
so important as on the east coast. 
Brodick. — Observations were commenced at Brodick on April 14, 1890, 
and to suit the convenience of the observer, they are made daily, at 10 
A.M. and 4 p.m., referring to surface- water only. The situation is a 
peculiarly favourable one, being the head of a light iron pier, which pro- 
jects into deep water on the south-east side of Brodick Bay. The sea 
sweeps freely between the slender pillars which support the pier, and 
there seems to be nothing to modify the natural variations of surface 
temperature of the eastern division of the Arran Basin. The average 
temperatures for the nine months of 1890 were 9°*8 at 10 a.m. and 10° '3 
at 3 p.m. This is higher than the temperatures recorded for Ardrishaig, but 
the two sets are not strictly comparable, as the three coldest months are 
omitted from the Brodick observations, and the latter being taken an hour 
later, the morning results will be naturally a little higher. In the first 
three months of 1891 the Brodick means were 6°'3 for 10 a.m. and 6°-6 
for 4 p.m., results very distinctly higher than those for Ardrishaig, more 
so than would be accounted for by the difference in the hour of observa- 
tion, since the Brodick morning temperature was higher than that of 
Ardrishaig in the afternoon. 
The highest temperature recorded at Brodick was 15°'0 at 4 p.m. on 
several occasions in July, August, and September. The minimum was 
4°-0 on March 11, 1891, at 10 a.m. These results are much less ex- 
