154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. II. 



LAKE CURRENTS. 

 BY L. J. Clark. 



(Read ytJi March, i8pi.) 



With the opinion that there are any regular, constant, well-defined 

 lake currents, I feel inclined to disagree. The theory that the waters of 

 the Niagara River make direct across the lake and strike the north shore 

 about the neighborhood of Scarborough Heights, and are then deflected 

 to the east or west, forming currents, is, I think, a highly delusive one ; 

 or, as Mr. Sandford Fleming characterizes it, "a theory wild and incapable 

 of defence, though some there are bold enough to venture it." Crossing 

 the lake one day last summer, when nearing the mouth of the Niagara 

 river, I asked the captain how far out he felt the influences of the 

 current ? He replied, " about two or three miles." I asked him what 

 velocity he supposed it had ? He said from three to four miles per 

 hour, and that when a strong east wind was blowing it would be turned 

 to the west, and vice versa ; and that it deposited its detritus a short 

 distance from shore ; thus showing that its current is practicall)' checked 

 when it strikes the great body of water in the lake. 



I believe that the uniform tendency of the water is towards its outlet 

 at the east end of the lake, and that the only other currents that exist 

 owe their origin to such causes as stated by the captain above referred 

 to, namely, the winds. That there are currents produced by this agency 

 no one will, I think, deny. But it is to the currents in our immediate 

 neighborhood, and along our own water front that I shall call your 

 attention to-night. 



The question becomes of primary importance when considered in 

 connection with any method of sewage disposal, which looks to diverting 

 the sewage, crude or partially purified, into the lake. An investigation, 

 then, of the Lake currents bears the same relation to sewage disposal 

 that testing tJie waters of Lake Sinicoe does to the gravitatio?i scheme, or 

 the newer method of supply by artesian wells ; first find the flowing 

 region. 



A somewhat remarkable statement was made by a prominent sani- 

 tarian, within the last twelve months, to the effect that the proposal to 

 discharge the crude sewage into the lake would be fraught with the 

 greatest danger to our water supply, as it was proved that any impurity 



