XVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
either direction.’ This remark gives little countenance to the theory of 
a constant inward flow, and it is in itself sufficiently non-committal to 
cover almost any condition. 
“The idea of a constant inward flow appears to be based on the drift 
of icebergs, and as they are most usually seen drifting inwards, it has 
been inferred that this is the constant direction of the current. The 
conyerse of this is, however, much nearer the truth; and it may be 
stated in general, that when icebergs are numerous at the outer end of 
the strait around Belle Isle, and are also found within the strait, this 
indicates that the direction of the current has been predominantly in- 
wards from the eastward during the few days previous; while the 
absence of icebergs indicates a current predominantly outwards from the 
westward. This refers to the presence or absence in the strait of floating 
bergs, and not to the presence of bergs which may be aground near 
either shore. It is also to be noted that only a very small percentage of 
the bergs off the outer end of the strait ever enter it. Capt. Vaughan, 
who resided four years on Belle Isle, states, in a pamphlet on the subject, 
that for ten icebergs which enter the strait there are fifty that pass the 
mouth and go southward. In doing so they follow the general drift of 
the Arctic current which passes Belle Isle, and the larger bergs also 
ground at the entrance to the strait. A section of the strait on a line 
north from Cape Norman shows no depth exceeding 50 fathoms. The 
largest berg which was seen this season at the outer end of the strait was 
aground in 59 fathoms of water off Chateau Bay. Its dimensions above 
water were as follows: Length, 790 feet; width, 290 feet; height, 105 
feet. This may, therefore, be taken as beyond the limiting size of bergs 
which can enter the strait. 
“Tt may be stated in general terms that the current in the Strait of 
Belle Isle was found to be fundamentally a tidal one. The best com- 
parisons of the current with the tides showed a complete correspondence 
between the two, especially during the prevalence of moderate westerly 
winds. On some occasions there were several days during which the 
current ran east and west for an equal length of time in each direction 
and turned regularly in correspondence with the rise and fall of the 
tide. This may, therefore, be considered as the normal condition of the 
current. With a heavy and long continued wind, the current would first 
run for a longer time with it and a shorter time against it, and eventually 
would run continuously in the same direction as the wind, with a fluc- 
tuation in velocity corresponding to the tide. This continuous current 
might be in either direction according to the direction of the wind. 
“From the numerous observations of temperature of the water, 
taken throughout the season, it is clear that during periods of predom- 
inant flow in one direction, the difference in temperature is well marked, 
and it might, perhaps, be possible to ascertain from extended observations 
