14 CURRENTS. 



current, and the huge masses of ice often transported through the 

 Straits would alone prove its existence, coming as they do with 

 their large area of surface directed against a strong opposing south- 

 west wind and even thus reaching the eastern point of Anticosti 

 before finally disappearing. The current bearing these masses is, 

 however, very irregular, being weak at times and very swift at others. 

 In following this most important current I must give the words of 

 the original sun^ey, as simpler than any I can invent, and more 

 truthful than any non-discoverer can give. " After entering the 

 Gulf the current runs along the north or Labrador coast at the dis- 

 tance of two or three miles from the outer islands, leaving a narrow 

 space in-shore in which the streams of the tide, when uninfluenced 

 by winds, are tolerably regular. Passing outside of Mistanoque, the 

 islands of Great Meccatina and Southmaker's Ledge, it pursues a 

 direction given to it by the trending of the coast till it is turned 

 gradually to the southward by the weak current which is often 

 found coming from the westward between Anticosti and the north 

 coast, during westerly winds, and which is set off to the southward 

 from Natashquan point. The united streams continue their south- 

 em course at a rate diminishing as they become more widely spread, 

 and which seldom exceeds half a knot, and, finally, joining the main 

 downward current out of the St. Lawrence, of which an account 

 will be given immediately, they all pursue a southeast direction to- 

 wards the main entrance of the Gulf, between Cape Ray and the 

 island of St. Paul. It is this current from the northward which is 

 felt by vessels crossing from off the Bird rocks towards Anticosti : 

 and which, together with neglecting to allow for the local attractions 

 of the compass, has been the principal cause of masters of ves- 

 sels so often finding themselves, unexpectedly, on the south 

 coast. Many shipwrecks have arisen from this cause near Cape 

 Rosier, Gaspe, Mai bay, etc." The same authority adds, further 

 on, as an explanation of the irregularities of current near the north 

 coast of the Gulf, that " both these currents, viz., that from the 

 northward, and the main downward current of the St. Lawrence, 

 are modified by the tides, but in a way directly contrary ; for the 



