178 On the Gulf Stream and Currents of the Sea. 



known to exist there. In the genial warmth of the sea about the 

 Bermudas on one hand, and California on the other, we find, in 

 great abundance, those delicate shell-fish and coral formations 

 which are altogether wanting in the same latitudes along the 



shores of South Carolina. The same obtains on the west coast of 

 South America; for there, the cold current almost reaches the 



— 



line before the first sprig of coral is found to grow. A few years 



ago, great numbers of bonita and albercose, tropical fish, follow- 

 ing the Gulf Stream, entered the English Channel, and alarmed 

 the fishermen of Cornwall and Devonshire by the havoc which 

 they created among the pilchards there. 



It may well be questioned if our Atlantic cities and towns do 

 not owe their excellent fish markets, as well as our watering 

 places their refreshing sea-bathing, in summer, to this stream of 



cold water. 



Mediterranean 



temperatut 



indifferent. On the other hand, the temperature along our coast 

 is several degrees below that of the ocean, and from Maine to 

 Florida our tables are supplied with the most excellent of fish. 

 The sheep's head, so much esteemed in Virginia and the Caro- 

 linas, when taken on the warm coral banks of the Bahamas, loses 

 its flavor, and is held in no esteem. The same is the case with 

 other fish — when taken in the cold water of that coast, they have 

 a delicious flavor, and are highly esteemed ; but when taken m 

 the warm water, on the other edge of the Gulf Stream, though but 



nil 



a few miles distant, their flesh is soft and unfit for use. *- M 

 temperature of the water at the Balize reaches 90°. The nsi 

 taken there are not to he compared with those of the same la i - 

 tude in this cold stream. New Orleans, therefore, resorts to tn e 

 cool waters of the Florida coasts for her most choice fish. 



The same is the case in the Pacific, the current of cold w* e 

 from the south sweeps the shores of Chili, Peru and Equador ao 

 reaches the Gallipagos Islands under the line. Throughout this 

 whole distance, the world does not afford a more abundant an 

 excellent supply of fish. 



Yet out in the Pacific at the Society Islands where co 

 abounds, and the water preserves a higher temperature, the 

 though they vie in gorgeousness of coloring with the birds a 

 plants and insects of the tropics, are held in no esteem as an ar 

 tide of food. 



rai 



