XVI ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Warren. luUlressed lo the colonial secretary of Newfoundland, and dated 

 as far back as February, 1854. Mr. Warren states that he had been 

 more than twenty times through the straits in sailing vessels, and a* 

 su[)erintendent of tisheries for the Newfoundland Government, he had 

 spent the months of July and August of the previous season in cruising 

 in the stî-aits. In the course of his report, he says : " The tides in the 

 Strait of Belle Isle are generally regular, flowing east and west ; on the 

 risino- tide setting to the westward, on the falling tide to the eastward 

 alternately every six houi's." He also adds that this is disturbed by the 

 influence of the wind. 



In the passage between the G-aspé coast and Anticosti, which forms 

 the entrance to the St. Lawrence, there is a current which runs almost 

 constantly from the northwest, or in an outward direction with 

 reference to the river. This current may follow the line of the Gaspé 

 coast, or it may at times lie further out in the middle of the passage 

 between Gaspé and Anticosti. There is in either case a flow^ of water 

 from the St. Lawrence into the gulf area, which is fairly constant ; and 

 this water was found to be fresher or lower in density than ordinary sea 

 water. 



Again, in Cabot Strait, there is a current flowing outward from the 

 gulf, which occupies a width of some 10 or 15 miles on the side next 

 Cape North. This current appears to be very constant ; and it alsa 

 proved to be lower in density and warmer than the water in the greater 

 portion of that strait. 



It apyteared j)robablc that a connection might be found to exist 

 between these two currents ; for although they are 200 miles apart, they 

 both flow toward the southeast, or in an outward direction in relation 

 to the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence ; they both proved to be unusually 

 fresh or low in their density ; and there was good reason to believe that 

 they were both of a constant character. It was, therefore, proposed 

 daring the season of 1895 to ascertain whether any connection could be 

 traced between them; and also to examine the current in the Gaspé 

 region as thonjuglily as possible in the time. 



A preliminary examination was made to ascertain whether the 

 temperature or the density of the water could best be relied upon in 

 tracing its movement, as these are the characteristics which are found 

 chiefly valuable in tracing currents. The surface temperature in the 

 gulf was found to vary chiefly with the progress of the season, and it 

 ranges from about 50° to ^5° Fahrenheit. In proceeding downwards 

 this temperature gradually falls, until at a depth of 40 or 50 fathoms it 

 is only ;^>1° to 34°, or [»ractic4illy at the freezing point. Where the 

 greater depths are met with, the water below this again is appreciably 

 warmer ; and from 100 to 200 fathoms it ranges constantly from 37° to 

 41°. It has now been ascertained that the density at those depths is 



