388 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CURRENTS. 



varies in this depth 40° F. At the surface it was from 81" to 82° ; at a 

 depth of 274 fathoms, 59=; at 492 fathoms, 45° ; and at 555 fathoms, 42^°. 

 This at once overturned all former speculations as to its enormous depth, 

 and high temperature to all depths. 



Besides the remarks hereafter given, a single fact will also suffice to 

 show that the Gulf Stream does not fill this channel. Between 1857 and 

 1862 Captain E. B. Hunt, of the United States Engineers, was employed 

 at Kay West, on the threshold of the Stream.* His careful observations 

 fully bore out the elaborate geological survey by Professor Agassiz in 

 1850-51,t and demonstrate that these kays and reefs are slowly, but 

 surely, extending to the Westward by the mechanical agency of a counter- 

 current North of the Gulf Stream, in direct opposition to the strongest 

 part of its course, which will be more fully dilated on hereafter. During 

 bad weather, the sea about the reefs becomes milky, or " white water," 

 from the bottom being stirred up by the waves. This white water is 

 invariably drifted to the Westward, and the matter it carries is slowly 

 deposited both North and South of the hne of kays, and to 30 and 40 miles 

 to the Southward of them. 



(375.) Between Sombrero Kay and Salt Kay Bank, aoout 85 miles East- 

 ward of the previous section, the Strait narrows to 54 miles, and the 

 soundings across, at distances of about 10 miles apart, are as follow : — 



112 239 370 500 385 fathoms. 



The depth of 385 fathoms is found within 9 miles of North Elbow Kay, 

 and it will be noticed how much the depth has decreased from the pre- 

 vious section, and that the descent from the Florida Reefs is much more 

 gradual. 



(376.) Between Carysfort Beef and Orange Kay, Great Bahama Bank, 

 the channel is 60 miles in width, the soundings, about 10 miles apart, 

 being as follow : — 



118 365 476 465 435 200 fathome. 



The depth of 200 fathoms is found within 4 miles of Orange Kay, and 

 the deepest water hes nearer the centre of the Strait. 



(377.) Across the Narroivs of the Straits of Florida, between Fowey 

 Rocks and Gun Kay, the channel is 42 miles in width, and this is the 

 most interesting section of the Stream, as careful observations taken 

 within these comparatively narrow limits render calculations of the volume 

 of the Stream to be within approximate limits of the truth. The earlier 

 series of soundings made this to be also the shallowest part of its course, 

 the greatest depth near the centre being stated to be 370 fathoms. 

 Soundings taken at distances of about 5 miles apart from Cape Florida, 

 are as follow : — 



21 195 248 214 320 425 ■ 481 481 156 fathoms. 



(378.) Between Jupiter Inlet and Little Memory Bock, Little Bahama 



• American Journal of Science, &c., vol. xxxv., pp. 197—210, and pp. 388—396. 

 t ProleeBor L. Agassiz in the Report of the United States Coast Survey, 1851. 



