CHAP. V.] THE GULF-STREAM. 343 
surface was 18°°3 C., much as before; we took a sounding in 
2425 fathoms, with a bottom of gray mud and a bottom tem- 
perature of 1°°8 C. The swell was still heavy, and sounding 
operations were carried on with some difficulty ; we were able, 
however, to get a set of temperature soundings from 800 to 
1500 fathoms to complete the series of the previous evening. 
During the day we made about five knots an hour in a westerly 
direction, and at 2 p.m. the temperature of the sea-surface sud- 
denly rose from 18°-6 C. to 22° C., showing that we had slipped 
over the southern edge of the Gulf-stream: owing to the cloudy 
and somewhat boisterous weather, little difference was seen in 
the appearance of the water. At 5 p.m. the surface temperature 
of the water had reached 22°°8 C., while the thermometer in the 
air stood at 17°°8 C. The position of the ship at noon was lat. 
35° 58’ N., long. 76° 39’ W., and the distance from Sandy Hook 
308 miles. 
We began to sound early on the Ist of May. The surface 
temperature was 24° C., and the stream was very manifest, run- 
ning past the ship and surging up against the “ Burt’s nippers” 
of the sounding-line with the rapidity and force of a mill-race. 
The sea was still running high. Two attempts were made to 
obtain soundings; during the first of these the wind was from 
the eastward, blowing with a force = 4, and the current dead 
against it, the ship lying broadside on, with her head to the 
northward. To reach the bottom as quickly as possible, 4 ewt. 
of sinkers were piled on the hydra tube, and a new No. 1 sound- 
ing-line was run freely from the lee side of the ship. After a 
short time the line went clear of the ship’s side, showing that 
the weight and the instruments attached had got beneath the 
rapidly moving water, and that the ship was being carried to 
windward by the current faster than she was drifting through 
the current to leeward. Sail was made to increase her drift, 
but it was found, on taughtening the line, that it was still run- 
ning out at a considerable angle, and before the ship’s head 
