334 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CURRENTS. 



miles. Although the Western limit of this Curi-ent is not well defined, the 

 data show that its rate and extent are remarkable. 



In Augu.st the Guinea Current is indicated between lat. 8'' and 10^ N., 

 in long. 45"' W., and from 40° to 30"' W. thsre are but few observations. 

 It appears, however, to be running at a velocity of from 15 to 20 miles a 

 day in this region to the Southward and Northward of East. At ^QP W. 

 it extends from 5^ to 12° N. latitude, and at 20° W. from lat. 4° to 15° N. 

 At this part its rate is between 10 and 25 miles per day. Farther East- 

 ward it is stronger, and off Sierra Leone has a velocity of 50 miles, with 

 direction Northward of East. Abreast Cape Verde it neutralizes the North 

 African Current. 



In September it can be traced to 37^ W. longitude. In long. 30" W. it 

 extends from 5° to 10° N. latitude ; in 20° W., from 3° to 14° N., and its 

 rate is from 8 to 32 miles. It maintains about the same rate in the Gulf 

 of Guinea, where its Southern Hmit is about lat. P or 2° N. Its velocity 

 is increased to 30 and 40 miles in the 24 hours in rounding the Coast of 

 Liberia. It appears to neutralize the North African Current in about lat. 

 12° N., Southward of Cape Verde. 



In October it has been noticed in 50^ W., between 5° and 10° N. Thence 

 to 30° W. there are only a few observations. At 30° W. it extends from 

 6° to 10° N., and at 20° W. from 3° to 10° N. Both the rate and set are 

 variable, though the general tendency towards Africa is evident. Between 

 15° and 20° W., and 4° and 8° N., it appears as a strong Current, with a 

 velocity of 30 to 40 miles in the 24 hours. In the Gulf of Guinea its rate 

 is greater than in 20° W., but nowhere exceeds 23 miles. The isotherm of 

 80°, in lat. 3° N., seems to mark the border of this Current. 



In November it cannot be traced farther than 32° W. At 30° W. it 

 extends from about 4° to 10° N., and at 20° W. from 3° to 10° N. It appears 

 to be now losing strength and regularity. From 20° to 10° W. the obser- 

 vations are deficient in number. Off the Coast of Africa it runs more 

 to the Southward of East than in previous months, indicating the effect of 

 the Westerly winds North of the N.E. Trade, driving water against Africa, 

 which runs to the Southward. In the Gulf of Guinea it is also feeble and 

 unsettled as to direction. 



In December the Guinea Current is indicated in 23° W., latitude 4° to 

 6° N. The set is irregular, and the rate feeble, from 11 to 14 miles. It 

 has contracted in breadth since November. At longitude 18° W., its 

 breadth is probably from 3° to 10° N. latitude. Thence to longitude 

 10° W. observations are wanted. The Current has been observed far to 

 the Westward in this mouth, in one or two instances between lat. 6'' and 

 8° N., and long. 35° and 40° W., and also in 47° W. and 5° N. In the 

 Gulf of Guinea it flows between the coast and lat. 2|° N., at a rate vary- 

 ing from 20 to 36 mllea. 



