136 A TEXTBOOK OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



In the much-frequented waters of the North Atlantic Ocean 

 there are records of the drift of derelict vessels affording an 

 interesting side-light on the ocean currents of that area. 



In the appended figure are shown the courses of several of 

 these vessels under the influence of the Gulf Stream drift. 

 American coasting vessels laden with wood, when they become 

 derelict or unmanageable, often drift for long periods, sinking 

 deeper in the ocean as the wood which forms their cargo 

 absorbs water and becomes heavier. The most famous case 

 is that of the schooner Fanny Wolston, timber-laden, which 

 drifted about for the best part of three years (October 15, 1891, 

 to October 21, 1894). During 1,100 days this wreck travelled 

 a distance of not less than 8,000 sea miles, in its last year a 

 great loop in a clock-wise direction off the entrance to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. 



A second notable instance is that of the American schooner 

 W. L. White, which became a derelict off the coast of Balti- 

 more on March 13, 1888. Two of its three masts remained, so 

 that not only was it subject to the influence of the Gulf 

 Stream, but also of the prevailing south-west wind. It travelled 

 speedily to the neighbourhood of Newfoundland, where it was 

 sighted on May 30, 1888. At this time the masts were gone 

 and the main deck under water, so that subsequently it 

 followed closely the drift of the Gulf Stream. Being in the 

 steamer route of the North Atlantic, it was frequently seen and 

 recorded by passing vessels. It was finally salved near the 

 Hebrides on January 23, 1889. 



In a drift of 317 days' duration the W . L. White travelled 

 nearly 5,200 sea miles. A somewhat similar course was fol- 

 lowed by the barque Siddartha. 



The steamer Rossmore and the schooners Angiel Green 

 and Bertram White drifted to the southward of the Azores. 

 A course between that of the Siddartha and the W. L. White 

 was followed by an unknown barque. 



The Yale and the Vincenzo Perotta followed different 

 courses from their commencement in the neighbourhood of 





