EEMARKS ON THE TIDE TABLE. 293 



(16.) Florida, &c. — Near Kay West, on the Florida Reef, the Tides are, 

 in some measure, regular within the reef ; the flood setting to the West- 

 ward, and the ebb contrary. To the Westward, between the Tortugas and 

 Cayo Marques, the flood sets variably through to the Northward, and the 

 ebb to the E.S.E. 



It is remarkable that, on the South side of these kays, the flood cornea 

 from the South-Eastward ; but on the North side of them, all the way 

 from Kay West, the flood runs to the Eastward, along the edge of the 

 bank, and to the Southward, through the little channels, in order to fill 

 up the intermediate bays and lagoons, with the assistance of the flood 

 from the Southward. 



Westward of Kay West there is a general current to the South- West- 

 ward, along the reef, and to some distance to the South side of it. 



In Chatham Bay it runs tide and half-tide ; viz., three hours flood, then 

 three hours ebb ; next nine hours flood, &c. Here, in some places, it is a 

 mere fall ; but in some of the channels it is as much as four men can do 

 to stem the current with a boat. 



During a S.E. gale or storm, the water in the bays and rivers of West 

 Florida has been known to rise 7 feet perpendicular, and vessels of burden 

 have been driven in among the pine trees, at some distance from shore. 



From Cape Roman, Northward and Westward, the tide seems to ebb 

 and flow only once in the twenty-four hours; but it is irregular, and much 

 governed by the winds. Yet the effects in a dry season are very perceptible 

 in the rivers at a distance from the sea. 



(17.) Bahamas, &c. — Although at the Bahamas the rise and fall are 

 inconsiderable, the tide of flood sets an indraught on the Northern part of 

 the Little Bahama Bank from every point of the compass, which renders 

 an approach very dangerous. The tide sets with some force directly on 

 and off the Western side of the Grand Bank of Bahama, particularly at 

 the full and change of the moon. It is high water at half-past seven or 

 thereabout, and the rise is 3 or 4 feet. On the Middle Ground of this bank 

 the tides set in every direction. 



In Providence N.W. Channel the current runs generally to the Eastward, 

 about 2 miles an hour. 



Near Egg Island, to the N.W. of Eleuthera, it is, however, uncertain, 

 and great attention should be paid to the lead. In the passage within 

 Egg Island the tide runs at the rate of 4 miles, and rises about 4 feet, the 

 flood setting Eastward, and strongly over the reefs. 



About the Berry Islands and Providence the water rises 2 feet higher 

 when the sun comes to the Northward of the Line, than it does when the 

 sun is to the Southward, and its strength is in a similar proportion. Hera 

 and at the Bemini Isles tlie flood sets to the N.E. 



