Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-02-14
SEAS MINUS TIDES
Mediterranean, Baltic and Other
Waters Without Fluctuations.
CONTRAST WITH THE OCEAN.
Flow From the Atlantic Rushes With
Pentup Fury Into Bay of Fundy,
Converting a Swamp Into a Deer
Harbor For Four Hours Each Day.

Harbor For Four Hours Each Day.
The Mediterranean sea. which has
lately been the center point OF interest.
is commonly described as tideleSs. and
the description 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. says the London Globe.
It WAS no doubt the amazement felt
by ancient Greek mariners, accuStom-
ell to the even level of the tideless sea.
at sight of the tidal bore Of the Seine
ut Rouen which inspired the story of
amorous Neptune pursuing the nymph
inland. The sea god baked of his
prey by the young lads 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 Il less roman
tic explanation Of the tides in the in
operating in the ratio Of one to four
produce spring tides when pulling to
gether and neaps when in opposition.
The tidal contrast at Southend and
the mightiest effort Of the Bristol chan
mel at ChepStow are alike dwarfed by
the eccentricities of the bay of Fundy,
that cUl de sac between Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick into which the At
lantic rusheS with pcntup fury, giving
rise to such effects as the bore at
MOnctOn. the reversible falls ut st.
John and the lightning transformation
of Windsor from a swamp to deep
water harbOr in the course of Il few
minutes. AS, however, it is a harbor
for only four hours and a swamp for
twenty the economic utility of Wind
SOr is qualified
Remarkable as are these expressions
of the ocean to eyes unaccuStomed to
such freaks of tidal equilibrium, it
must he confessed that the tourist Is
certain to encounter disappointment II
he expects too much. Thus the tides
of the bay Of 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 wa
ter from the suspension bridge over
head are Just worth the short drive
from the city. But the much adver-
tised 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 mud flats inspires an
agreeable feeling of fear in those gath
cred on the little quay for the pur-
pose. It's only rival is said to he In
far Cathay. but from all accounts the
Chinese bore is n far more formidable
flood
It 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 there is no tide whatever.
Even at Cannes the ebb is SO feeble
that a strong wind from the sea all
but arrests it, This regular ebb and
flow of tides must not be confused
with the operation of currents which,
from the gulf stream, most considerable,
of them all. to the slightest drift on
our own coasts. are due to very differ
ent influences.
Even from the Mediterranean and
Black seas very strong currents EN-
anate The currents off Gibraltar are
by no means disregarded by sailors,
and the pace of the BospOrus oppo-
site Candilli or Behek suggests a mill
race and calls for the greatest caution
in navigating small boats.
Those who live on the shores of the
Baltic and Mediterranean have taken
advantage of the absence Of tides to
erect all manner of fixed bathing
places, thereby dispensing with the
cumbersome and cOmfortleSs bathing
machine, which is moved to and fro
on the fOreShore.
lIppranarA6