APPENDIX C LUI 



movement. The temperature was taken to a depth of thirty fathoms; 

 and more was expected from the temperature than from the density, 

 as it was hoped it would serve to trace the course of the Polar current. 

 The depth of thirty fathoms was found sufficient, as the water was 

 there at the freezing point throughout the region examined, both south 

 and east of Newfoundland, during the whole season from May to 

 September. All the change which took place during the progress of 

 the season or from other causes, was between the surface and thirty 

 fathoms. The change of the temperature of the water also afforded 

 an interesting valuation for the amount of wind disturbance, and the 

 ■depth to which it extended, under given conditions. 



Two results were arrived at, wliich made the temperature obser- 

 vations of little value for the purpose of tracing the movement of the 

 water by its temperature, and which it will therefore be sufficient to 

 mention briefly: (1) The temperature of the water at 30 fathoms is 

 practically at the freezing point in all parts of this region, from the 

 mouth of Placentia Bay to St. Johns. It varied only from 30^° to 3-i° 

 Fahr., and there was no change from one month to another, from May 

 to September. (2) The water of the Polar current warms up quite 

 as much on the surface as the surface water elsewhere in this region. 

 The general increase of the surface temperature along the south shore, 

 from St. Pierre to Trepassey, was from 36^° in May to 50° in Septem- 

 ber; and the surface temperature of the Polar current rose from an 

 average of 34^° at the end of May to 50^° at the middle of August. 

 Whether this increase of the surface temperature takes place during 

 the progress of the current southward, or whetber this warmer surface 

 water flows over it from elsewhere, we have not sufficiently extended 

 observations to determine. But for the guidance of the mariner, it 

 is evident that the lower temperature cannot be depended on, as an 

 indication of the current-belt itself. 



Wind Influence. — It would be quite erroneous to suppose that the 

 wind always causes a drift in its own direction. On the conitrary, the 

 set is primarily due to the nature of the current; and if it has any 

 definite direction of its own, owing to the tide or other causes, it takes 

 a strong wind a considerable time to overcome this, even with currents 

 such as these, which do not exceed one knot. 



A set of the current towards the point from which a wind is about 

 to come is iu accord with the universal testimony of the fishennen 

 throughout these regions. Of all the signs of bad weather, it is the 

 one which they appear to find the most trustworthy. In the summer, 

 bad weather usually comes from the S.E. and " blows itself out " from 

 tliat direction; but later on, in the autumn, the wind chops round to 



