102 



THE FLOOR OF THE OCEAN 



systematically to the left, as it forges its way gulfward over its 

 own great deposit of sediment, including the bird-foot fraction 

 of the delta represented in Figure 54. 



SCALE IN WILES 



FIGURE 54. PRESENT COURSE OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 

 AFTER R. J. RUSSELL. 



The more recent diversion toward the east seems best ex- 

 plained by the influence of a dominant marine current that 

 runs past the delta from east to west. Every year, during the 

 flood season, the river builds a sand bar just in front of each 

 mouth, the annual advance of the most important bar being 



