XVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



open iiulf seldom exceed two knots per hour, they are specially liable to 

 disturbance bj^ the wind. It is also interesting to note that a belt of 

 water of higher density is usually found along a windward shore, while 

 the water of lowest density lies towards a lee shore with reference to the 

 direction of the prevailing winds. 



The results arrived at with regard to the connection which could be 

 traced between the outflowing water at (raspé and Cape North, and also 

 the behaviour of the Gaspé current itself under varj-ing conditions, and 

 the character of the current in the Mingan channel, will be full}' given in 

 the forthcoming report. This will also be illustrated by several outline 

 charts, diagrams of the velocity and direction of the currents at the 

 gulf entrances, and sections of these currents to show their density. 



It can hardh' be doubted that the low density of the Gaspé current 

 is to be attributed to the outflow of the St. Lawrence Eiver, and we are 

 thus able to trace the influence of this water across the width of the 

 gulf as far as Cape Breton where it Anally mingles with the water of the 

 ocean. An approximate calculation, based upon the discharge of the St. 

 Lawrence, shows that this fresh water volume may be suificient to 

 explain the reduced density of the Gaspé current. This current, how- 

 ever, has usuall}' a width of about 12 miles and a mean thickness of 

 30 fathoms, with an average velocity between the surface and that depth 

 of one knot per hour. Such a current would, therefore, have a volume 

 which is sixty-four times greater than the St. Lawrence River, and the 

 volume of the corresponding current flowing outward through Cabot 

 Strait is much the same. It is evident, therefore, that the total volume 

 of water which actuall}' leaves the gulf, is vastly greater than the 

 volume ot fresh water which it receives from the St. Lawrence. It is 

 important to notice this in order to i;nderstand the relation of the Gulf 

 area to the St. Lawrence Eiver and the ocean respectively, as the volume 

 so leaving the gulf must be replaced by water which enters it from the 

 ocean. The investigations already made show that there is some 

 balance of flow in favour of the inward «lirection at the Strait of Belle 

 Isle, and it also appears that the motion on the eastern side of Cabot 

 Strait is usiially inwards. It must, therefore, be from these directions 

 that the loss to the gulf area is supplied, and this also accords with the 

 higher density of the water on the side of the gulf next Newfoundland, 

 whi(di appears to be ]»ractically the same as in the neighboui-ing Atlantic. 

 The evidence obtained is also against the view that there is an}- return 

 current in the rleep water of Cabot Strait from 100 fathoms downwards. 



An explanation is required to show why the current is usually found 

 on the side next the OJaspé coast, and why the watei- of less density 

 should keep to the southwestern side of the gulf and flnaljy flow out of 

 the gulf on the western side of Cabot Strait, instead of spreading over 

 the surface of the gulf generally. When a belt of water of low density 



