CEUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 123 



shore (on tbe south coast of Wrangel Island). This is not only inconsistent with the theory that 

 the Rodgers found no current other than a tidal one, but it agrees with the result of the Corwin'a 

 observations. On the south coast of AVrangel Island she found a westerly current, and on the 

 east coast a northerly current. A glance at the chart will show that a northerly current through 

 Bering Strait, if unobstructed by ice, would have precisely the directions indicated along the 

 south aud east coasts of Wrangel Island. As already stated, however, all currents are subject to 

 change in the vicinity of the ice pack. 



The discovery of a tidal current in Bering Strait and the Arctic Ocean is not new, it having 

 been known to exist and been reported by several navigators. The boat expedition under Com- 

 mander Pullen, R. N., along the north coast of Alaska, in 1849, found 18 inches rise and fall at 

 Point Barrow and the same at the mouth of the Mackenzie. Richardson speaks of the ebb and 

 flow of the tide east of the Mackenzie. The Corwin found 2 feet rise and fall at Wankerem and 

 3 feet in Kotzebue Sound. Parry found a tidal current in Melville with the flood tide setting to 

 the southward. W. H. Dall, United States Coast Survey, found a tidal current in Bering Strait 

 iu 1880 with the flood tide, which was the stronger, setting to the northward. 



Theoretically, the rise and fall of the tide should decrease as we approach the poles of the 

 earth, but in reality, owing to the interruptions of coast lines, &c, this rule is far from holding 

 good. The average rise aud fall in Norton Sound, just south of Bering Strait, is about 2 feet; a 

 few degrees of latitude farther south, at Nouchagak, it is nearly 30 feet ; and still farther south at 

 Ounalaska, it is not over 6 feet. Thus, although the tides are caused by lunar aud solar attraction, 

 the amount depends not so much upon these as upon local causes, coast lines, &c, and the ex- 

 cessive amount of rise and fall discovered by the Rodgers on the south side of Wrangel Island 

 must be due to the icepack, and can hardly be regarded as representing the normal characteristics 

 of the tide at that place. One theory advanced in relation to the Bering Strait current is that it is 

 caused by the rivers emptying into Bering Sea and Norton Sound. The effect of the rivers iu 

 Kotzebue Souud was remarked by Captain Beechey, R. N, who, in speaking of a current encoun- 

 tered between Point Hope and Kotzebue Souud, says : 



It varied from 1J to 3 miles per hour and was strongest inshore. It was very constant, and the water was much 

 fresher than the ordinary sea water. 



He adds: 



It is necessary here to give some further particulars of this current, in order that it may not he supposed that the 

 whole body of water between the two continents was setting into the Polar Sea at so considerable a rate. By sinking 

 the patent log lirst 5 fathoms and then 3 fathoms, aud allowing it to remain iu the first instance six hours aud in 

 the latter twelve hours, it was clearly ascertained that there was no current at either of those depths. But at the 

 distance of 9 feet from the surface the motion of the water was nearly equal to that at the top. Hence, we must con- 

 clude that the current was superficial and confined to a depth of between 9 aud 13 feet. By the freshness of water 

 alongside, Captain Beechey believed the current was occasioned by the many rivers which at this time of the year 

 empty themselves into the sea at ditferent parts of the coast at Schischmaretf Inlet. 



He further says: 



So far there is nothing extraordinary in the fact, but why this body of water should continually press to the north- 

 ward in preference to taking any other direction or gradually expending itself in the sea is a question of considerable 

 interest. 



The remark applies with equal force to such rivers in Kotzebue Sound as pass through Bering 

 Strait, while the decreased specific gravity of the river water, due to its higher temperature and 

 freedom from salt, would prevent its readily mingling with the surrounding salt water. The fact of 

 its flowing northward through Bering Strait, notwithstanding the course of the current is broken 

 by shoals, sand bars, capes, islands, &c, is not so readily explained except upon the theory of the 

 surrounding current having the same direction. 



As evidence of the existence of a current northward through Bering Strait, we have first the 

 remarkable drift of the Jeannette. This vessel entered the ice near where the observations of the 

 Rodgers are said to have upset all existing theories in relation to Arctic currents, yet notwith- 

 standing the enormous friction of the ice, at points of contact, to be overcome, aud iu the face of 

 adverse winds, which many times set her back to the south and eastward during the twenty months 

 she was helplessly embayed in the ice, as a resultant of all currents she made a drift of 500 miles 



