y02 OBSKK NATIONS ON THE CUEREInTS. 



undoubtedly given rise to most, if not to all, the reports, formerly quite 

 frequent, of rocks and broken water in this vicinity. It is hardly necessary 

 to add that all search for such dangers has been unavailing. 



The currents on the N.B. extremity of Spain, about Coruna, where the 

 Eastward drift is separated into two branches by the projection of the land, 

 are generally governed by the winds. The coast is thus dangerous in those 

 which come from North to West, and where they are light and the sea 

 heavy it is best to keep well off shore, otherwise the outer rocks may be 

 passed at 2 miles distance. 



To the Eastward of Cape Ortegal, and at a considerable distance from 

 shore, but at what distance cannot be well defined, the Easterly or N.E. 

 current is constant, and it also runs with great velocity, quite overpower- 

 ing the effect of the tide. With N.E. winds, but not with others, this 

 Easterly drift is found close inshore. The current very rarely runs to the 

 Westward. 



The drifts are more sensible to the East of Cape Peuas than to the 

 West. They generally run to W.N.W. in the summer, and to East and 

 E.N.E. constantly in the winter. A strong Easterly current is a sure pre- 

 monitor of a N.E. gale. 



On the Biscayan coast the drift is to the East during the winter season, 

 impelled by the constant S.W. and N.W. winds. 



The current frequently attains a rate of more than 3 miles an hour, when 

 a strong gale from N.W. has occurred. A strong Easterly current during 

 calm and serene weather is generally the precursor or indication of a gale 

 or squall from N.W. From the same cause a very high tide may be 

 looked for in all the harbours. 



In summer the current often runs to West and W.N.W., but with little 

 velocity, so that it may be taken almost as a general rule that the current 

 is constantly to the East at a certain distance off the land, as before stated. 



The farther you proceed up the Bay of Biscay towards Bayonne, the 

 currents increase in strength, and turn to N.E. and North up the coast of 

 France. Their rate is much increased by a N.W. gale, when they attain 

 a velocity of 4 miles, and sometimes more than 5 miles an hour, accord- 

 ing to the local seamen-. The rapid drift of this Northerly current during 

 winter gales, which always blow from S.W., will explain how the innu- 

 merable wrecks occur on the banks off Arcachon and Cape Breton. 



(255.) Rennell's Current, which is occasionally of considerable breadth 

 and strength, frequently sets athwart the entrances of the English and 

 St. George's Channels to the N.W. and W.N.W., at some distance to the 

 Westward of the Isles of Ushant and Scilly. As it apparently depends 

 on temporary circumstances, it is considered as a temporary stream ; and, 

 although a certain quantity of Northerly indraught is always to be allowed 

 for, with the tide of flood, on approaching the Scilly Islands, on the Ocean 

 the Current, unless with particular winds, will be scarcely, if at all, per- 

 ceptible. 



The general causes of Currents, so far as they depend upon the state of 

 the Winds, &c., are generally known to seamen; and that a long-continued 

 wind, in one particular direction, will either produce a stream where no 

 obstruction exists, or cause an accumulation of the water against an 



