Proceedings of the Polytecunic Association. 9G9 



and bluer, but tliis is not so, as it becomes redder. If tlic gulf stream 

 derives its color from its saltness, why has it a dark blue. The gulf 

 stream is swanniug with life, with animaleula\ On a dark night, 

 especiall)^, it is illuminated with phosphorescent animals, and some 

 of these, when thrown on the deck of a vessel, would explode. This 

 stream is destined by God to accomplish some great M^ork. What it 

 is Ave do not know. It is isolated, it has no altinity with any other 

 water. This great body of water rolls on as a y'wqv in the ocean. There 

 are three great streams of cold water mixed in it. The water passes 

 in layers all along over the Gulf of Mexico to the coast of England, 

 and its temperature is pi-eserved throughout. Dr. Franklin supposed 

 that the trade winds had some influence on the gulf stream, but it 

 runs directly against the trade winds, which never get a lair SAveep 

 of the gulf stream except in summer, just oil' the coast of Florida. 

 On the map a similar stream is shovv'n, the Black stream of Ja}>an, 

 off the coast of Formosa, which rolls on at the rate of four miles an 

 hour. But if the gulf stream derives its poAver from the trade 

 winds, Avliy does it still roll on toAvard the north. The coast of Eng- 

 land which should be as cold as the coast of Labrador, is as mild as 

 the south at lands-end in England. We have the harbors of Europe 

 kept open in the midst of Avinter by this mighty Avater. Another 

 theory of the origin of the gulf stream is that it is caused by the 

 annual fall of rain. Xoav, the depth of the rain that falls yearly 

 on the surface of the glol)e is at least five feet. And this rain is 

 mostly taken up by the ecjuatorial regions. The belt of the stream 

 is 3,000 miles broad, and 20,000 miles long. The specific gravity of 

 this Avater is another point to be considered. The ordinary specific 

 gravity is ]02»), pure fresh Avater being .1000. Yv^e know that the 

 Gulf of Mexico is a great cauldron of brine, and that vessels have to 

 re})lace tlieir copper after passing over the gulf. The sj^ecific gravity 

 of this Avater all over is 102S, Avhich is the heaviest of any Avater 

 that has been f )und on the surface of the globe. Our books all tell 

 us that the heavy cold Avater of the Arctic regions rush down to 

 take the place of that of the equatorial regions, but at the same 

 temperature, as Ave find that the Avater of the equatorial regions is 

 much heavier than the Arctic. These are tAvo great facts Avliich 

 bring before us the true ])henomena of this great stream. If left to 

 itself, the gulf stream Avould run due north, I»ut the diurnal revolu- 

 tion of the eai'tli causes a dijviatiou. In b^'IS, ju>t at the time Avheu 

 the ir^df stream was causinir considerable discussion. Avheii the A\'in- 



