long supposed to possess direct communication with
the Northern Ocean. In prehistoric times a connexion with the Caspian Sea
existed; but since the earliest historical times no great change has taken
place in regard to the character or relations of the Sea of Azov. It lies
between 45deg 20' and 47deg 18' N. lat, and between 35deg and 39deg E.
long., its length from south-west to north-east being 230 m., and its
greatest breadth 110. The area runs to 14,515 sq. m. It generally freezes
from November to the middle of April. The Don is its largest and, indeed,
its only very important affluent. Near the mouth of that river the depth of
the sea varies from 3 to 10 ft., and the greatest depth does not exceed 45
ft. Of recent years, too, the level has been constantly dropping, for the
surface lies 4-3/4 ft. higher than the surface of the Black Sea. Fierce and
continuous winds from the east prevail during July and August, and in the
latter part of the year those from the north-east and south-east are not
unusual; a great variety of currents is thus produced. The water is for the
most part comparatively fresh, but differs considerably in this respect
according to locality and current. Fish are so abundant that the Turks
describe it as _Baluk-deniz_, or Fish Sea. To the west, separated from the
main basin by the long narrow sand-spit of Arabat, lie the remarkable
lagoons and marshes known as the Sivash, or Putrid Sea; here the water is
intensely salt. The Sea of Azov is of great importance to Russian commerce;
along its shores stand the cities of Taganrog, Berdyansk, Mariupol and
Yenikale.

AZOXIMES (furo [a.b.] diazoles), a class of organic compounds which contain
the ring system

<math>HC = N N = CH[|]\/[|]O.<math>

They may be prepared by converting nitriles into amidoximes by the action
of hydroxylamine, the amidoximes so formed being then acylated by acid
chlorides or anhydrides. From these acyl derivatives the elements of water
are removed, either by simple heating or by boiling their aqueous solution;
this elimination is accompanied by the formation of the azoxime ring. Thus

NH_2OH // N.OH boil with
C_6H_5CN --------> C_6H_5.C -------->
\ NH_2 propionic anhydride

[ //N.O.COC_2H_5 ] // N.O \
[ C_6H_5C ] --> C_6H_5.C C.C_2H_5.
[ \ NH_2 ] \ N //

[v.03 p.0086] Azox