DR. SIMPSON'S REMARKS. 123 



thirty-one vessels were either crashed or abandoned, and seven 

 vessels were saved. 



Dr. Simpson's Remarks. — " Through the large opening between the 

 American and Asiatic continents, occupied by the Aleutian Islands, 

 there is an almost imperceptible set from the Pacific Ocean north- 

 wards, the waters of which, retaining the impulse given them by the 

 earth's rotation in a lower" latitude, draw towards the American 

 shores, and throw themselves into Norton Bay. They are thence 

 driven with increasing force along the coast of America opposito the 

 island of St. Lawrence, diffusing themselves to the north of that 

 island to be carried with lessened speed through the Straits of 

 Behring, after receiving in the latter part of their course the fresh- 

 water stream falling through Grantly Harbour into Port Clarence. 1 

 Spreading again over a larger space, they receive a further tribute 

 from Kotzebue Sound, which is very palpable off Port Hope. 

 Again in the latitude of Icy Cape the earth's rotation gives them 

 an easterly set, forming an almost constant current along the north 

 coast of America to Point Barrow, whence it pursues a direction 

 north-east. Throughout all this course the current is subject to 

 retardations, and even surface-drifts in an opposite direction, caused 

 by northerly and north-easterly winds, but it is also accelerated 

 by southerly and south-westerly gales." 



" In the beginning of the summer the eastern side south of the 

 straits is free from ice, and Norton Bay itself is usually cleared as 

 early as April. After the middle of June not a particle of ice is 

 to be seen between Port Spencer and King's Island ; whilst the 

 comparatively still water north of St. Lawrence Island is hampered 

 with large floes until late in July." 



" This can be satisfactorily accounted for by the existence of a 

 northerly current partly driving and partly throwing the ico down 

 from the American shores. There is scarcely a particle of drift- 

 wood to be had on the Asiatic coast from Kamschatka tq East Cape, 

 whilst abundance is to be found in Port Clarenco and Kotzebue 

 Sound, as well as along the whole American shore from Norton 

 Bay to Port Barrow. 



" Although it has been found that pine-trees 60 inches in girth 

 grow here on the banks of the American rivers, within tho 

 67th parallel of latitude, yet from the frequently larger size of tho 

 trunks and their great abundance, it is evident these northern 

 regions, including Norton Bay, cannot supply tho quantity: ami 

 more southern rivers, whether Asiatic or American, or buth, must 



1 Dr. Simpson was nol aware of tin- importance of the River ^ okon. 



