OCEAN CURRENTS. 345 



dominate on tlie surface by superior force until the Kuro 

 Siwo gives a stronger wall, which causes the cold current to 

 pass underneath in the direction of the equator. 



One or more branches of the Arctic current perhaps 

 pushes eastward towards North America, and we find one 

 such branch marked on the Austrian map as passing down 

 nearest the coast and disappearing at 40° Lat. Our map 

 indicates that this cold current is continued to Point Con- 

 ception. 



The bulk of the Kuro Siwo trends eastward, but perhaps 

 nowhere washes the shores of the United States, being sep- 

 arated from them by the narrow cold stream, and yet being- 

 near enough to exercise a powerful influence on her climate. 

 Thereby it is also explained why 200 miles from Honolulu 

 the isothermal line of 40^ is at the same depth as we found 

 it off Trinidad Head, and even at a greater dejDth near San 

 Diego, where the warm waters are no longer affected by a 

 cold current. 



Therefore, if we can establish a harmony of our conclu- 

 sions with the balance of the observations in regard to the 

 northern drifts, we are faced by difiiculties in attempting to 

 explain the state of affairs on the line off San Diego. After 

 the cold stream is submei'ged off Point Conception, we are 

 confronted with a body of warm water which can hardly owe 

 its temperature to the influence of the Kuro Siwo. 



How could the cold current be deflected southwestward, 

 if a potent warm stream from the north were pushing 

 against it? How could we account for the great j^revalence 

 of seaweeds off' the shore of Southern California, if a strong- 

 drift were working on these waters? 



How could tropical and subtropical fish be found on 

 the adjoining- coast, if the Kuro Siwo really had superseded 

 the cold current ? Is there not a warm current flowing 

 northward? 



To decide this question beyond doubt we need a careful 



