278 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ VoL. TE. 
was unfortunate that we had not a boat that was capable of standing a 
rougher sea, as that is the very time when the required information 
would be most valuable. The highest velocity of the wind we were able 
to operate in was 25 miles per hour. 
While the currents seem to be under the influence of the winds to some 
extent, there is considerable lack of uniformity, particularly at different 
stations; for instance, the currents in the Humber Bay did not conform 
to the same general principle as at other stations; also, the currents at 
the Eastern Gap seemed to be different from those to the east and west 
of it. But one thing seems to be pretty clearly proved, that the general 
direction of the currents is paralled to the coast line from Victoria Park 
to the western extremity of the Island, that is N.E. and S.W. nearly. 
Thus North East, East, and South East winds pretty generally produce 
currents flowing South West, while South, South West, and West winds 
give North Easterly currents, and North and North West winds give rise 
to variable currents; thus on seven occasions when the wind was from the 
North and North West the resulting currents were two North East, three 
South West, and two South East. Also a South West wind would pro- 
duce a North East current south of the Island, and a North West one west 
of the Island. The phenomenon of the current being in a contrary direction 
to the wind was more marked in Humber Bay than to the south of the 
Island; although on one occasion, on the 17th of July, we put out, near 
Victoria Park, first a 30 feet float, second a surface float without flag or 
_ drag, a mere tin can with an iron rod, four feet in length, attached, and 
third an empty tin can; the wind was fresh from the East; the first and 
second floats went dead against the wind, while the empty can was driven 
along before the wind on the tops of the waves. Close in shore we some- 
times observed the current in an opposite direction to that farther out. 
Instances of counter under-currents were obtained from Mr. J. Raynor 
and Mr. J. G. Rosesseau, fishermen at Niagara. They informed us that 
when they had their nets out in deep water during the prevalence of 
strong easterly winds, they would find in drawing in the nets that any 
floating submerged leaves or weeds would be caught on the opposite side 
of the net, showing that the under-current was from the West. This 
would indicate that the waters, being driven to the West, pile up at 
Burlington Beach and the head of the water thus raised forces a portion 
of the water back as an under-current. This would be more noticeable 
in Humber Bay if it were more closed in by Mimico point. Instead of 
giving the reverse undercurrent close in by the shore, it would probably be 
found out in a coupie of hundred feet or so of water. 
We made a trip to the mouth of the Niagara river to ascertain if 
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