REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[34] 



9th July, but three feet below the surface it was 44 degrees, having in 

 that short vertical space sunk 13 degrees ; at 24 feet it was 40 degrees, 

 or 17 degrees below the surface temperature. 



" The coastal waters of Massachusetts rapidly acquire an elevated 

 temperature in June, when the waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 

 are often still ice-cold. In April, May, and June the cod and haddock 

 resort in large numbers to the banks and reefs off Stonington, Watch 

 Hill, No Man's Land, and other similar places, but are quite unknown 

 there later in the summer. 



" Local winds and tidal currents bring the waters of the Gulf Stream 

 on to this coast and displace the cold waters, even at the distance of 

 twenty or thirty miles from the shore in summer.* 



" In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence the temperature of the surface in 

 summer rarely reaches, as far as observed, the temperature of the bot- 

 tom of the sea off ISo Man's Land, or 59£ to 61£ degrees in 11 and 18 

 fathoms respectively.! 



1 ' Dr. Kelley records the following surface temperature in various parts 

 of the gulf, and generally within view of the land : 



Date. 



Position. 



June 19, 

 July 9, 

 Aug. 10, 

 Sept 2, 

 June 28, 

 Aug. 14, 

 Aug. 15, 

 Aug. 18, 

 Aug. 28, 

 Aug. 30, 

 Aug. 31, 

 Sept 1, 

 Oct 10, 

 Oct 10, 

 Oct 11, 

 Oct 11, 

 Oct. 12, 

 Oct 13, 

 Oct 14, 



1832 

 1831 

 1831 

 1832 

 3832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1832 

 1831 

 1831 

 1831 

 1831 

 1831 



Off roint de Monte 



do 



Off Anticosti 



Min^an Harbor 



Estuary of Saint Lawrence. 



OftKegashka 



In Kegashka Harbor 



do 



do 



do 



OffMingato 



Min gnu Harbor 



Near Cape Gaspe 



OffCapeGaspe 



Near Mount Louis 



7 miles off 



Bay of Seven Islands 



.... -do 



do 



Temperature 

 of surface. 



4?, 

 .)? 

 .54 



• r .: 



48 

 53 

 48 

 38 

 55 

 52 

 51 

 39 



a 



43 



41 

 47 

 46 

 43 

 39 



" In the harbors of the gulf coast, and even at a considerable distance 

 off the land, the temperature of the surface is greatly affected by winds. 

 A warm dry wind off the land diminishes the temperature of the sur- 

 face by evaporation. 



" Tidal currents have a powerful effect on the temperature of the sur- 

 face over shoals near the shore, by bringing the cold water to the sur- 

 face. On the 27th June, 1832, Dr. Kelley observed the temperature of 

 the surface water over a shoal ledge which runs out a considerable dis- 

 tance from Mingan Harbor to be only 33 degree's : on the previous day 

 the water in the estuary of the Saint Lawrence being 47 or 48 degrees. 



"Professor Verrill. page 485, Report of the United States Commissioner of Fish and 

 Fisheries, 1871-72. 

 t Verrill. op. tit., page 484. 



