REMARKS ON THE TIDE TABLE. 291 



in which also will be found a full account of the Tides of the River St. 

 Lawrence, &c., of which a condensed account follows, 



(12.) River St. Lawrence. — The flood tide, entering the River St. Law- 

 rence, proceeds upwards in the wide and deep channel of the estuary, till 

 it is obstructed by the contracted breadth of the river near Red Island, and 

 the sudden shallowing of it near this part ; from this cause it is prevented 

 from continuing in its upward course, and in consequence of the quantity 

 of water here collected not finding a sufficient outlet, it is reverted, and 

 forms an eddy-flood. The stream of flood, therefore, runs in opposite direc- 

 tions, on either side of the river. This stream coming from the Eastward, 

 as it approaches the Northern part of Red Island Bank, runs very strong, 

 sometimes at a rate of 4 knots, bearing round at this part, and proceeding 

 in a different direction towards Razade Islands, with a velocity of from 

 2 to 3 miles per hour, and then proceeds onward with a constant current 

 downwards, thus adding to the current of water from the river itself, and 

 increasing its strength. It is strongest inshore, and extends about half- 

 way over, diminishing in strength towards the middle ; and from this 

 difference in its velocity, and the unequal depth of the river, occasioning 

 those violent whirls and ripples which occur in its strongest parts. 



On the South coasts of that part of the river between Cape Gasp4 and 

 Green Island, there is no upward current from the tides that is available 

 for navigation ; during the floods at spring tides, there is a Westerly 

 current felt close inshore, the line between the two streams being marked 

 by strong rippling. 



Off Point de Monts there is very little or no stream of flood, excepting 

 close inshore, and the downward current is constant off that point. The 

 point diverts the current to the S.S.E., which runs at a rate of from 1 to 2 

 miles an hour, so that it is difficult for a vessel to beat round it with a 

 Westerly wind. 



During the ebb tide the stream runs down on both sides, strongest on 

 the South, and weakest in the middle of the estuary. On the North shore 

 it is turned to the Southward by the projecting points at the Bay de Mille 

 Vaches, Port Bersimis, the Peninsula of Manicougan, and Point de Monts; 

 this fact is important, and ought to be attended to, as this Southern ten- 

 dency is increased at these points, by the water brought down by the large 

 rivers between them. 



On the South side the stream of the ebb tide is also increased, by the 

 efflux of water from the Saguenay River, which, setting with great velocity 

 across the tail of Red Island Bank, adds to the downward course of the 

 stream. 



At 9 miles below Tadousao, or the Saguenay, is the eddy of the flood, 

 and the stream on the surface always sets thence downward. Off Tadousac, 

 the tide ebbs six hours eight minutes. Both streams here run three- 

 quarters of an hour after high water. At Green Island it ebbs six hours 

 twenty-four minutes, and flows six hours. 



At the Isle aux Coudres it ebbs six hours twenty minutes, and flows six 

 hours. Here the ebb stream continues an hour and a quarter after low 

 water, and the flood three-quarters of an hour after high water. Within 

 the Pillars, off St. Jean, the tide ebbs six hours fifty minutes, and flows 



