THE 



NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The North Atlantic Ocean is the smallest of all the great divisions of 

 the Ocean, but it has ever been of far greater importance to man than all 

 others collectively. It ov^res this maritime siiperiority to the great propor- 

 tionate length of its varied coast-line, vs^hich perhaps nearly equals that of 

 all other navigable seas, and to the vast area drained by the rivers falling 

 into it, which give ready access to, and intercommunication between, seats 

 of dense and inland population. It is from these causes that the inhabit- 

 ants of its maritime countries have, in all ages, applied themselves to 

 navigation ; and it is more than probable that the facilities thus afforded 

 by it for commerce and travel have caused the nations, who inhabit the 

 vicinities of those vast inland seas and bays which distinguish the borders 

 of the Atlantic, to make greater progress in civilization than those of any 

 other part of the globe. 



The area of the North Atlantic does not comprise more than about one- 

 eleventh part of the entire ocean. From its having been the great high- 

 way for so many ages, its history, features, and phenomena are better 

 known than those of any other, and we can now give a far more perfect 

 view of it — in every aspect — than of the rest of the world of waters. 



A committee appointed by the Eoyal Geographical Society defined : — 



" The limits of the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans, respectively, to be the 

 Arctic and Antarctic Circles ; the limits of the Atlantic on the North and 

 South , to be the Arctic and Antarctic Circles ; its Western limit to be the 

 coast of America, as far South as Cape Horn, and thence prolonged on the 

 meridian of that Cape, until it meets the Antarctic Circle; its Eastern 

 limit to be the shores of Europe and Africa, as far South as the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and thence prolonged on the meridian of Cape Agulhas, till 

 that meridian cuts the Antarctic Circle." 



Our present work deals exclusively with the Northern portion of the 

 area thus defined, or that part which is separated from the Southern by 

 the Equator. 



N. A.o. a 



