GEOGRAPHY, ANTIQUITIES, AND STATISTICS. 307 



The scientific world await with anxiety the confirmation of the 

 last welcome news of his safety. 



THE GULF STREAM AND THE CUBA TELEGRAPH. 



A special survey has been made under the direction of Mr. J. 

 E. Hilgard, of the U. S. Coast Survey, at the instance of the In- 

 ternational Ocean Telegraph Company, with a view to determine 

 the conditions to be encountered in locating the cable between 

 Florida and Cuba, through the Gulf Stream. The examination 

 reveals a very irregular and precipitous descent from the Cuban 

 coast, reaching the maximum depth of the channel, 840 fathoms, 

 37 miles from the Moro. From the northward, the bottom falls 

 away in terraces without abrupt slopes. It is in the deep canons 

 or gorges of the southern portion that the Gulf Stream and its 

 counter currents find their channels, while the sea lies almost mo- 

 tionless above the terraces of the northern coast. About 21 miles 

 from the coast of Cuba, a submarine mountain rises in the midst 

 of the southern channel, with the extreme depths of 748 and 843 

 fathoms on either side of it. The summit of this mountain is 2,400 

 feet above the bed of the straits, and reaches to within 2,400 feet 

 of the surface ; the current running over it so strongly that sound- 

 ings were made with great difficulty. It appears to be triangular 

 in its general form, with precipitous sides, presenting at its west 

 angle a bold prow to the stream. 



RUSSIAN AMERICA. 



The following information in regard to Russian America is de- 

 rived from Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Means of Information. He has had two explorers in that field 

 between one and two years, who returned last autumn, bringing 

 a collection of specimens of natural history, extending from the 

 British possessions to the shores of the Polar Sea. 



Climate, Temperature. The coast from Prince of Wales Island 

 to the entrance of Behring's Straits, during the winter months, is 

 about the same as at the city of Washington. Little snow, much 

 rain. During summer months, very foggy. 



Timber. Whole country, well up to the northern coast, heav- 

 ily timbered, chiefly hard pine forests; small trees up to the very 

 shores. Some of the islands heavily timbered with pine forests 

 and dense underbrush ; some of them destitute of timber, and 

 covered with grass of luxuriant growth. The soil on the west 

 coast produces excellent barley and roots, such as radishes and 

 turnips, and esculents, such as lettuce, cabbage, etc. 



Animals. Furred animals, such as sea otter, river otter, sable, 

 furred seal, mink, foxes, black, silver, red, etc., in great numbers. 

 Red deer in the south, reindeer in the north. In Bearing's Sea 

 and northward great whales are very numerous. 



Fish. Herring, salmon, halibut, and codfish abound in ex- 

 haustless numbers. 



Minerals. Surface washings of gldhave been discovered on 

 the head-waters oi' streams, on the east side of the coast range of 



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