104 
.MU. H. N. DICKSOX OX| THE CTRCULATIOX OF THE 
similar to that oijserved in the preceding Januaiy, the principal difterence being thiat 
the salter and warmer waters press closer np in the south-east and south centre, tlie 
current south-east of Newfoundland being mucli restricted, while temperature and 
salinity are much lower between the Azores and Portugal. 
The development of the conditions observed in the spring of 1896 accordingly 
occurs earlier in 1897, but with this difterence, that the movement appears to be, on 
the wliole, more from the south, and the easterly components are Aveaker. The 
result is that the salter warmer waters spread more uniformly northwards and west- 
Avards r)AAr the Avhole of the central area of the North Atlantic ; they come closer to 
tlie south-east coast of Greenland and the coast of Labrador, and occupy a Avider area 
in DaAus Strait. At the same time, })erhaps because there is less “ banking-up ” 
against the European coast, the stream iiorthAvards and through the Faeroe Channel 
a])pears to be Aveaker—this apj)ears chiefly from the temperatures. Both branches 
of the Irminger current seem to haAm less j^enetratiA’e poAver. East and north-east of 
Iceland the distriljution is altogether more uniform, as if both Avarm and cold currents 
Avere Aveaker than last year. 
This deAmlopment evidently culminates in May, but in April the enlargement of the 
southern end of the Lpubrador current is already apparent. Another change is the 
increasing soutliAvard moAmment betAveen the Azores and the coast of Portugal, Avhicb 
becomes more marked than in 1896. 
The easterly drift from the loAver latitudes Ijecomes Avell defined in June and 
July, but it does not attain the same deA^elopment eastAAmrds as in 1896; off the 
Labrador coast the fresh Avaters do not extend so far to the east, Avhile the higher 
isohalines retain their position near the Greenland side of the entrance to DaA’is 
Strait. The branch of the Irmlno’er current Avest of Iceland is eAudenth" Aveaker ; 
Polar AAvater siAreads south-east from Greenland, but again to a less extent than in 
1896. The current east of Iceland tends to spread eastAvard, but nortliAvard rather 
than southAvard. 
In August the characteristic change is a large extension soutliAvard and eastAvard 
of the Labrador cuiTent, and the apparent retreat southAvard and eastAvard of the 
salter AAmters in the Azores region. At this season the easteily diift Avas moie to the 
south-east than in 1896. 
The increase of tlie Polar current in Denmark Strait is Avell marked, but not so Avell 
as in 1896, and the Polar Avaters are sloAver in making their AA'ay eastAAmrd. Salinity 
ol)servatit)ns are unfortunately AAmnting to the east of Iceland, and it is dangerous to 
draAV any conclusions from the temperatures on account of the higher temperatures 
everyAvhere near land. It Avould seem that the Polar Avater continued to moA’e east- 
AAmrd from tlie east and north-east of Iceland, but there is no information as to hoAv 
far it covered the north-easterly current from tlie Atlantic. 
So far as the information goes, the north-east current lietAveen Scotland and Iceland 
Avas Aveaker during the aaLoIc of the early part of 1897 than in the corresponding 
