384 OBSEEVAT.IONS ON THE CUEEENTS. 



mere are great ripplings, which are very perceptible. The appearance ol 

 the sea- weed, by day, is an indication of this edge of the Stream ; this 

 weed being, commonly, on the outer edge of the Stream, in greater quantity 

 and larger clusters than within it. 



On its inner or N.W. edge the contrast between its clear blue water 

 and the greenish coloured water of the cold Arctic Current is often 

 very marked, besides the great difference in temperature of the two 



streams. 



It has been stated by some observers that the water within the Stream 

 does not sparkle in the night. That observant navigator, Captain Living- 

 ston, says that, though this is a common, it is a misconceived, idea : — " I 

 have frequently seen it sparkle much ; even last night it sparkled con- 

 siderably, when we were in about 25° N., and 80° or 79° 40' W. ; and off 

 Cape Eoman, Cape Fear, Cape Hatteras, and the entrance of the Delaware, 

 I have seen the water sparkle pretty much, though I think not equal to 

 what it does in many oth«r parts of the Ocean." — {In the Stream, Sep- 

 tember 10th, 1818.) 



Mr. EUicott said (Journal, 1803) : — " It has been mentioned by Dr. 

 Franklin, that the water of the Gulf Stream does not sparkle in the night. 

 This, so far as my observations go, is incorrect : I saw but little or no 

 difference between that and the other water on the coast ; but if there was 

 any, that of the Gulf Stream was the most sparkhng and luminous. It 

 may, however, be observed, that the same water is very different, at 

 different times, in this respect. 



" The same ingenious writer and philosopher likewise observes, that the 

 Gulf-weed is a sign of being in the Stream. This is in part true, but by 

 no means to be considered as a general rule, because the ivater on the 

 borders of the Stream is constantly mixing with the adjoining toater, and 

 leaving some of the weed behind, which consequently falls into the eddy 

 currents, and is carried off many miles." 



Lieutenant John Evans remarks : — Phosphorescent lights are equally 

 abundant in the Florida Stream as in the Gulf of Mexico, some unusually 

 large and brilliant ; and some of the small lights appeared to spring out 

 of the water with a sweeping motion, which I had never before observed ; 

 the temperature of the water was 79°, that of the air 76°. 



(370.) Extent. — The Gulf Stream may be said to commence its great 

 career between the Tortugas Bank and the Coast of Cuba, and the line 

 joining the Dry Tortugas and Havana may be taken as its starting point. 

 The channel is here 95 miles wide. Between Kay Sal Bank and Sombrero 

 Kay the channel is only 54 miles wide ; off Cape Florida, its narrowest 

 and shallowest part, it is 44 miles in width; and between Jupiter Inlet and 

 the N.W. part of Little Bahama Bank the channel is 47 miles wide. This 

 confined part of the Gulf Stream, before it shoots off uncontrolled into the 

 Atlantic, is 330 miles long. 



Pursuing its way Northward, its warmest waters and strongest current 

 keep near the edge of the bank of soundings which fronts the coasts of 

 Georgia and the CaroHnas, following the general curve very strictly, and 

 in its main strength keeping 35 to 50 miles off Cape Hatteras, where the 

 whole area occupied by the cold and warm bands may be included in a 



