Evening star., 1912-11-10
TIDELESS MEDITERRANEAN.
Contrasts Between Open Ocean and
Great Landlocked Sea.
From the London Globe.

From the London Globe.
The Mediterranean sea. which has lately
been the center point of interest, is COM
monty described as tideless, and the de-
scription is correct, at any rate of its
eastern end. Navigators like Jonah and
st. Paul knew nothing Of tides. The
word does not even occur in the Bible.
1t was no doubt the amazement felt by
ancient Greek mariners accustomed to
the even level Of the tideless sea. at sight
of the tidal bore of the Seine at Rouen
which inspired the story of amorous Nep-
tune pursuing the nymph inland. The
sea god. baked of his prey by the young
lady's parents. Ceres and Bacchus, still
rushes madly into the estuary twice in
the twenty-four hours. and is apparently
engaged In chasing innumerable other
nymphs with the same zeal into every
estuary on the Atlantic.
Science has discovered a less romantic
explanation of the tides in the influence
of the sun and moon. These. operating
In the ratio of one to four. produce spring
tides when pulling together and neaps
when in opposition.
The tidal contrast at Southend and the
mightiest effort of the Bristol channel at
| Chepstow are alike dwarfed by the &C.
centricities of the Bay of Fundy, that cul
de sac between Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick into which the Atlantic rushes
with pent-up fury, giving rise to such eff
fects as the bore at Moncton, the Revers-
, ible Falls at st. John. and the lightning
Transformation of Windsor from a
swamp to deep water harbor in the
course of a few minutes AS. however
it is harbor for only four hours and a
swamp for twenty the economic utility
of Windsor is qualified.
Remarkable as are these expressions OF
the ocean to eyes unaccuStomed to such
| freaks of tidal equilibrium. it must be
confessed that the tourist Is certain tC
encounter disappointment if he expects
| too much. Thus the tides of the Bay o
| Fundy are absolutely unnoticeable on the
| steamers which cross from Digby to st
John.
| The Reversible Falls at the latter port
| seen Immediately after high water from
| the suspension bridge overhead. are just
| worth the short drive from the city: but
| the much advertised Moncton Bore is a
| poor lion in the light OF day. though
| heard rather than seen, at night the
coming OF the wave over the mudfats
| inspires an agreeable feeling of fear in
| those gathered on the little quay for the
| purpose. It's only rival is said to be in
! far Cathay, but from all accounts the
| Chinese bore is a far more formidable
| food.
| 1t is in virtually landlocked seas like
| the Baltic. Mediterranean and Euxine
| that we must look for absence of tides
particularly in those portions remote
| from their outlet. At Stettin, Smyrna
| and Batoum th~rs 10 no tide whatever
1 Even at Cannes 'he ebb 10 so feeble that
| a strong wind from the sea all but ar
| rests 1t. This regular ebb and flow ol
| tides must not be confused with the oper-
alton of currents which, from the gull
| stream. most considerable Of them all, tC
| the slightest drift on our own coasts. are
/ due to very different influences.
Even from the Mediterranean and
Black seas very strong currents emanate
| The currents off Gibraltar are by nj
/ means disregarded by sailors, and the
pace of the Bosporus. opposite Candill
| or Bebek, suggests a mill race and call:
for the greatest caution in navigating
small boats.
| Those who live on the shores Of the
Baltic and Mediterranean have taken ad
vantage of The absence of tides to erec
all manner of fixed bathing places
thereby dispensing with the cumbersome
and comfortless bathing machine, which
Is moved u and fro on the foreshore.