Originally published in 1928 as part of the Cambridge Comparative Physiology Series‎,‎ this book examines the effect of sea water on the growth of marine plants and animals as well as how the varying chemical makeup of seawater affects its circulation‎.‎ Harvey covers topics such as temperature fluctuation‎,‎ tidal streams‎,‎ and the fertility of coastal areas‎,‎ and supplies many charts and graphs in the text to illustrate key points‎.‎ This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of science and the study of the oceans‎.‎