General Summary. — These observations of the density and temperature 

 were taken with the primary object of tracing the movement of the water, as 

 this method had proved so serviceable in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The density 

 of the water was taken at the surface only. The variation did not prove sufficient, 

 however, to be relied upon as an indication of direction of movement. The 

 temperature was taken to a depth of thirty fathoms; and more was expected 

 from the temperature than from the density, as it was hoped it would serve to 

 trace the course of the Labrador current. The depth of thirty fathoms was 

 found sufficient, as the water was there at the freezing point throughout the 

 region examined, both south and east of Newfoundland, during the whole 

 season from May to September. All the change which took place during the 

 progress of the season or from other causes, was between the surface and thirty 

 fathoms. The change of the temperature of the water also afforded an inter- 

 esting valuation for the amount of wind disturbance, and the depth to which 

 it extended, under given conditions. 



The general results, although they are of little value for the purpose of 

 tracing the movement of the water by its temperature may be summaiized as 

 follows: — (1) The temperature of the water at 30 fathoms is practically at the 

 freezing point in all parts of this region, from the mouth of Placentia bay to 

 St. Johns. It varied only from 30^° to 34° Fahr., and there was no change 

 from one month to another, from May to September. (2) The water of the 

 Labrador current warms up quite as much on the surface as the surface water 

 elsewhere in this region. The general increase of the surface temperature along 

 the south shore, from St. Pierre to Trepassey, was from 36^° in Ma;y to 50** in 

 September; and the surface temperature of the Labrador current rose from an 

 average of 34^° at the end of May to 50J° at the middle of August. Whether this 

 increase of the surface temperature takes place during the progress of the 

 current southward, or whether this warmer surface water flows over it from 

 elsewhere, we have not sufficiently extended observations to determine. But 

 for the guidance of the mariner, it is evident that lower temperature cannot be 

 depended on, as an indication of the current-belt itself. 



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