BAHAMA ISLANDS, ETC. 855 



(323.) Bahama Islands. — The following remarks by Captain W. C. Berry 

 are extracted from Captain Maury's " Sailing Directions," 8th edition, 

 vol. ii., page 19. He says : — " Having had long experience in the trade 

 between New York and New Orleans, I herewith furnish you with a few 

 remarks on Winds and Currents. For the last six years I have commanded 

 the ship Vicksburgh, constantly trading between these two ports. In 

 making the passage out, after passing the Hole-in-the-Wall, I have fre- 

 quently found a Current, from 1 to 3 miles per hour, setting to the East- 

 ward through the N. W. Providence Channel, particularly after the wind 

 has prevailed from the Westward a few days. This, no doubt, has been the 

 cause of putting a number of vessels on shore among the Berry Islands. I 

 have latterly made it a point to take the last bearings of the light on the 

 Hole-in-the-W^all, and either haul up or keep off as I found the current ; 

 generally running on a West course until quite down with Little Stirrup 

 Kays, then steering W. by N. f N., by compass, if in the night, until I was 

 up with the Great Isaacs." 



(324.) Lieutenant G. C. Hanus, U.S.S. Enterprise, states that in No- 

 vember, 1890, when off the Bahama Islands, a current of about half a knot 

 an hour was found, setting W.N.W. Between Castle Island and Cape 

 Maysi, Cuba, the current encountered was slight at first, setting to the 

 Westward, but, on approaching Cape Maysi, and after sighting the light, a 

 current was found of about Ih knot per hour setting to the Westward, and 

 gradually decreasing in force until after the light bore West, when the 

 current changed to the Southward and Westward with gradually diminished 

 force. 



(325.) Of the Currents in the vicinity of Anegada and the Virgin Islands, 

 Sir Eobert Schomburgk says : — 



" It is well known that the Tropical Current, caused by the earth's rota- 

 tion, sets to the Westward, and its grand movement in these latitudes is 

 directed through the Caribbean Sea ; but it is probable that a branch of it, 

 turned aside by the North-Eastern coast of South America, sweeps along 

 the Caribbean Islands to the N.W. till it reaches the Bahamas ; and it is 

 this branch which at present attracts my particular attention, and in proof 

 of the existence of which I adduce the following remarks : — 



" Vessels bound from America to the West Indies, and chiefly to St. 

 Thomas's, frequently find themselves to the North of the Virgin Islands ; 

 and this deviation from their intended course has but too often proved fatal, 

 having brought them on the reefs of Anegada when they thought them- 

 selves far to the Southward of that dangerous island. Nor can repeated 

 occurrences like these be attributed exclusively to errors in the observations 

 for determining the latitude, or to false reckoning.'' 



The American brig William and Thomas left New York October 28th, 

 1829 ; made Bermuda on the seventh day after her depxiture, when, con- 

 trary winds retarding her course, land was discovered in the morning of 

 November 15th. According to reckoning, it was supposed to be St. Martin's, 

 but it was fortunately known, on approaching, to be Virgin Gorda, or pro- 

 bably, in the night, the vessel would have gone on the reefs oi Anegada. 



The English brig Francis, bound from Nassau, in New Providence, to 

 I'rinidftd, cloudy weather having precluded an observation for several days, 



