61 
PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE SEA WATER OF 
THE MARINE LABORATORY. 
By G. SISSON. 
From the end of April this year the sea water as pumped 
into the tanks in the aquarium has been analysed at intervals. The 
temperature has also been recorded. We have thus only about three 
months record so far. During the time, we have been struck by 
the remarkable uniformity in the strength of the sea water, although 
the suction pipe draws from between tide marks in Cullercoats Bay. 
The strength is indicated by the salinity or saltness, which averages 
34-4 per 1000. The lowest figure occurred on June 30th, during a 
flood from the River Tyne, which extended during ebb almost to 
the mouth of Cullercoats Bay, the figure on that day being 
34 per 1000. 
The supply of sea water in the Laboratory thus compares 
favourably with the general water off the North-East Coast as 
found by many samples taken off Alnmouth Bay, Fame Islands, &e., 
both at the surface and at twenty to thirty feet depth, the average 
salinity of such water being 34'45. The general salinity of the 
North Sea is of course less than that of the North Atlantic, which 
averages 36. 
% 
