IS THE GULF STREAM A MYTH? 123 



and the coasts of the north, running south with equal 



velocity One part of it underruns the Gulf 



Stream, as is shown by the icebergs, which are carried 

 in a direction tending across its course.' There can 

 be no doubt, in fact, that this last circumstance indi- 

 cates the manner in which the main contest between 

 the two currents is settled. A portion of the arctic 

 current finds its way between the Gulf Stream and 

 the continent of America; and this portion, though 

 narrow, has a very remarkable effect in increasing the 

 coldness of the American winters. But the main part, 

 heavier, by reason of its coldness, than the surrounding 

 water, sinks beneath the surface. And the well-known 

 fact mentioned by Maury, that icebergs have been 

 seen stemming the Gulf Stream, suffices to show how 

 comparatively shallow that current is at this distance 

 from its source, and thus aids to remove a difficulty 

 which we have already had occasion to deal with. 



Doubtless the cooling influence of the arctic cur- 

 rents is appreciable; but it would be a mistake to 

 suppose that this influence can suffice to deprive the 

 Gu f current of its distinctive warmth. If all the 

 effect of the cold current were operative on the Gulf 

 Stream alone, we might suppose that, despite the enor- 

 mous quantity of comparatively warm water which is 

 continually being carried northwards, the current 

 would be reduced to the temperature of the surround- 

 ing water. But this is not so. The arctic current 

 not only cools the Gulf current, but the surrounding 

 water also possibly to a greater extent, for it is com- 



