In order to investigate the influence of the wind upon the movement of oil slicks on water, experiments were performed using an open channel placed inside a wind tunnel. The channel was a specially designed Ahlborn tank which was arranged so that the direction of flow of the water could be easily reversed, thus enabling the water to be pumped either with or against the direction of the wind. A detailed investigation of the wave motion in the liquid was also performed, since this was clearly an important factor affecting both the velocity and the spreading of the oil.