82 On the Tides. 
appears to be contradicted by strong evidence. That the Gulf 
stream gives the peculiar character to the tides on the coast of 
North America, appears certain. Where it leaves the Gulf of 
Mexico, the rise and fall of the tides is said to be two or three 
feet only. The tides increase with that current to the east, till 
it rises more than twenty-five feet in Nova Scotia and Newfound- 
land; where that wave is wafted across the ocean to the Irish 
and British channels, and the Bay of Biscay, of about a similar 
height. But at St. Ubes it rises only one to two feet, and in the 
Mediterranean sea there is no rise and fall of tides. 
If the moon were the sole cause of the rise of tides, why is it 
not more evident in the south Atlantic, West Indies, and coast of 
South America, where her influence ought to be the greatest, in 
the greatest expanse of ocean? And yet the tides there are so 
so small they are scarcely noticed. 
It is said that the Gulf stream is caused by the effect of the 
trade wind on the Caribbean sea, by pressing the water westward, 
and causes the outlet at the Gulf of Mexico. That may produce 
some effect ; but can it be the sole. cause of the Gulf stream ? 
Although that stream may be ourse (like a cable 
in a stream) both north and south, by long and violent seinds, 
(as has been seen,) yet it resumes its wonted place and preserves 
its regular course so exactly, that in approaching it in fair and 
moderate weather in day light, by ascending the shrouds of a 
vessel, it may be seen at a great distance, and when passing it, 
the edge of the stream may be discerned as plainly as land from 
water. It appears as blue as indigo, while the adjoining water is 
of the usual green hue. The division is so exact, that it may be 
noticed as plainly as the crack between the planks in a house 
floor ; and yet, if you dip a bucket of water from the stream, it is 
of similar clear and white appearance as the common ocean or 
other water, but warmer. Why does the ocean always run swiftly 
into the Mediterranean sea, as do the immense Danube, Nile, and 
other large rivers? No doubt to keep up the subterranean stream 
which passes out of the Bay of Mexico, called the Gulf stream. 
This sustains the usual circulation and its warm temperature and 
throws off an immense evaporation, as it runs towards the colder 
Tegion, where it is condensed to furnish materials for watering 
the Atlantic coasts by se rains, without which, fe would 
be 0 rare, and: t the land | d by d “ey TE 
