§ on a stream. He 



On the Gulf Stream and Currents of the Sea. 179 



Therefore let those who are curious as to the migratory habits 

 of fishes, join hands in the proposed system of observations upon 

 currents, for the few facts which we have bearing upon the sub- 

 ject seem to suggest it as a point of the inquiry to be made wheth- 

 er the habitat of certain fishes does not indicate the temperature of 

 the water, and whether these warm and cold currents of the ocean 

 do not constitute the great highways through which migratory 

 fishes travel from one region to another. 



Navigators have often met with vast numbers of sea nettles 



(medusae) drifting along with the Gulf Stream. They are known 



to constitute the principle food for the whale ; but whither bound, 



by this route, has caused much curious speculation, for it is well 



known, that the habits of the whale are averse to the warm waters 



ot this stream. An intelligent sea captain informs me that two 



or three years ago, in the Gulf Stream, on the coast of Florida, 



»e fell in with such a "schole of young sea nettles as had never 



More been heard of." The sea was covered with them for many 



ea g'ies. He likened them in appearance on the water to acorns 

 floatin 



°rsix days in sailing through them. In about sixty days after- 

 wards, on his return, he fell in with the same schole off the West- 

 on Islands, and here he was three or four days in passing them 

 a a "i. He recognized them as the same, for he had never before 

 ^en any like them ; and on both occasions he frequently hauled 

 ti P buckets full and examined them. 



^ow the Western Islands is the great place of resort for whales. 



nd at flr st there is something curious in the idea, that the Gulf 

 Mexico is the harvest field, and the Gulf Stream the gleaner, 



lch collects the fruitage planted there, and conveys it thou- 

 sands of miles to the hungry whale at sea. But how perfectly 

 ^ n J Ulison is it with the kind and providential care of that great 



good Being, which feeds both the young ravens and the 

 Arrows ! 



ur information as to the Sargasso sea is most barren. Whence 



lnes tn e weed with which it is covered, or where its place of 



°^ vtri rnay be, is matter of dispute among learned men. But 



0r tne office which it performs in the economy of the ocean, 



n Jecture ev en is silent. Certain it is however, that sea of weeds 



as »ot planted in the middle of the ocean without design. The 



' s of intelligence, displayed throughout the whole system of 



erre strial adaptations, forbid the idea. 



