ICEBERGS AND FOG IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. 639 



reduced to 



Average of fog each passage on the southern route 3 33 



and 



Average of fog each passage through the ice-region by former 



route 7 52 



reduced to 



Average of fog each passage through the same by latter route. . 1 G 



and, omitting the fifty-eighth voyage, have actually an average of only 

 fourteen minutes of each passage for eight passages through the whole 

 region of the Atlantic where ice is liable to be encountered. Another 

 fact that should not be foi'gotten in the comparison is the maximum 

 amount of fog liable to be met with (see tw r enty-second and thirtieth 

 passages west) on the northern route (track No. 1). 



Cape Race in August. On this route for this month we have 



MILES. 



Average distance sailed each passage 2,858 



Average distance sailed each passage by extreme southern route. 3,021 



Loss of distance each passage 1G3 



Against which loss of distance, we find the average of fog as above, 

 instead of 



H. M. 



Average hours of fog, Cape Race 12 17 



Average hours of fog through the ice-region 4 1 



and 



Maximum amount of fog on thirty-ninth voyage 23 51 



As I have seen ice on three out of five of these August passages 

 via Cape Race, it is an open question which is the best route for this 

 month in ordinary years. Where the ice has continued so late as in 

 the present season, I should certainly prefer the southern route. 

 Below is the report of the steamer Main (Ger.), via Cape Race, in 

 July of the present year, arriving in New York on the 20th of that 

 month : " Passed Cape Race July 18th ; . . . from Sable Island to 

 Sandy Hook had continuous fog ; July 19th (?) latitude 47 45', longi- 

 tude 48 12', passed an iceberg ; same date, latitude 46 56', longitude 

 52 24', up to Cape Race, for a distance of thirty miles numerous 

 large and small icebergs ; same date, latitude 40 11', longitude, 53 

 54', two large icebergs." 



Currents. I was much surprised, on comparing the total dis- 

 tances, by observation and account, for these westerly passages, to 

 find that the average current was less on the southern than on the 

 northern route. 



The following sIioavs the comparison for the twenty-seven westerly 

 passages : 



