214 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



admitted to be absolutely out of reach O'f dispute, be argued as follows : 

 Between Cape Farewell, in Greenland, and St. Joihn's, Newfound- 

 land, the mean variation, i.e., taking the variation of the half way 

 point of the distance, is, at the present day, or at least will be in 1905, 

 to which date the Admiralty Ohart is caloulated, 39-|° W. 



It has been ascertained by observations extending over many years 

 that there is a gradual decrease in variation. It is different at different 

 points in the ocean, but it is regular. Thus, off the N. W. coast of 

 Scotland and the Orkneys it is a decrease of seven miles every year. 

 In the centre of the Atlantic it is six miles annually, and off the Grand 

 Bank of Newfoundland, five miles per annum. In the region we are 

 now considering, namely, between Greenland and Newfoundland, the 

 annual decrease is four miles. Now, if we consider this decrease as 

 going on regularly since the time of Cabot's voyage (1497) up to the 

 date of the chart (1905), we have the following result: The period of 

 time is four hundred and eight years. This numher at four miles per 

 year will give 1,632 miles, or 27|-°. The variaition, therefore, of the 

 present day is that m'uch lesis than it was in Cabot's time, consequently, 

 in order to find out the variation in Cabot's time we have to add 

 this amount to the present variation, thus, 32^° -(- 27^° = 67Vio°, 

 or, let us say, 66|°. Cabot, therefore, steering due west by compass 

 from Cape Farewell, would in reality be steering W. 66f° S., 

 or S. 23^° W., i.e., S. S. W. This is precisely the true coarse from 

 Cape Farewell to St. John's! Moreover, the distance is exactly 800 

 miles, or 300 of Cabot's leagues. It will thus be seen- that both course 

 and distance correspond in a marvellous manner to the accounts of 

 Cabot's voyage. 



But we have now to account for the effect of the Arctic current 

 For this we have to allow about two miles an hour for lee-way. Now, 

 sailing as we have seen at the rate of about 130 miles a day, it would 

 take a little over six days to make the distance from Cape Farewell 

 to St. John's, or 144 hours. Allowing two miles an hour for lee-way, 

 this would bring him 288 miles south of his course. But we must 

 remember, firstly, he would not beigin to feel the effect of this Arctic 

 current until he had come within some two hundred miles of New- 

 foundland coast. Hence, we must at once reduce the lee-way by three- 

 quarters or more, say, to about 72 miles. 



Secondly, on coming near the Newfoundland coast he would imme- 

 diately begin to feel the counteracting effect of the great northerly 

 "' set " running along the east coast of Newfoundland from Cape Eace 

 northerly, the neglect of observing which has been the cause of so many 

 steamers running ashore on our S. E. coast, when endeavouring to 

 round Cape Race, and thinking they were giving it a wide berth. 



