C2 THE LABEADOR PENINSULA. chap. xxiv. 



In the estuary, there is usually a shallow upper stratum 

 of warm water, restmg on the great mass of cold, but 

 often mixed with it under the influence of winds. This 

 also occurs in the Gulf, where the superficial stratum is 

 warm, and of greater depth than in the estuary ; hence 

 the reduction of temperature which takes place in the 

 gulf after gales is not so great as in the estuary. ' In 

 every instance we found it warmer,' says Dr. Kelly, ' at 

 100 fathoms depth than at 50. AVhen, however, portions 

 of water, drawn from different depths, were examined by 

 the hydi'ometer, the specific gravity was always found to 

 be greater in those which came from greater depths.' 



The changes of temperature in the waters of the Gulf 

 have no relation to the temperature of the air at the 

 time. Dr. KeUy found the greatest cold in the surface 

 water at the Straits of Belle Isle, at Mingan, at Point des 

 Monts, and near Bic, where the width of the current is 

 greatly diminished, and the cold water from below is 

 forced up and mingles with the warm superstratum. 

 The temperature of water is increased by pressure, and 

 some of the apparent anomahes in the temperature at 

 great depths in the gulf and estuary may be explained 

 by this fact, which, having been only recently estabhshed, 

 has not been apphed to explain variations in temperature 

 at depths when pressm^e becomes an element of import- 

 ance. 



It also appears, from the preceding and many other 

 similar observations, that, in fine weather, the compara- 

 tively warm and fresh water of the St. La^vrence and its 

 numerous tributary streams floats on the surface, but 

 that, when the waves are agitated by any cause, it be- 



