436 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CUREENTS. 



rather argue from its effects than from direct observation ; for one result 

 of this influx of warm water into a cold region is the production of dense 

 Fogs so peculiarly characteristic of the Banks. " Bank Weather" is not 

 favourable to astronomic observations, and hence the paucity of them, and 

 the difficulty of forming accurate estimates. 



(435.) Upon a survey of the Virgin Bocks, in July, 1829, the Current at 

 about 80 miles E. by S. from Cape Race was found setting over them to 

 the W.S.W., at the rate of a mile an hour. During the survey of these 

 banks, in July and August, 1879, by the officers of H.M.S. Gulnare, little 

 current was experienced, a slight set to the Southward only being percep- 

 tible, except in the immediate neighbourhood of Virgin Rocks and Eastern 

 Shoals. Round these the fishermen report a regular tide, running to the 

 Westward in the morning, and changing gradually to the Northward and 

 Eastward in the afternoon. From the observations made, no law could be 

 deduced, but the fact was established that a tidal stream attains there a 

 velocity of three-quarters of a knot an hour, when there is no sensible 

 stream a few miles away. 



To different currents must be attributed the loss of the sloop Comus, 

 the transport Harpooner, H.M.S. Drake, and the brig Spetice, all of which 

 were lost, at different times, upon one spot, the little bay called St. Shot's 

 Bay, on the South coast of Newfoundland, and lying between Cape Freels 

 and St. Mary's Bay. The Comus was from the West, and was lost in the 

 night of October 24th, 1816, after having sounded, as supposed, on the 

 inner edge of Green Bank. The Harpooner, a transport with troops, was 

 from Quebec, and bound for London; she struck at 9 p.m., November 

 10th, 1816. The Drake sailed from Halifax for St. John's, June 20th, 

 1822, under very favourable circumstances, upon a direct course for Cape 

 Race ; but on the 23rd the weather became thick, and at noon she was 

 supposed to be 90 miles from Cape Race, but at 7^ 30"" p.m. breakers were 

 reported ahead, and the ship was soon after a total wreck. The Spence 

 was from Richibucto, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with lumber, bound to 

 Liverpool, and was totally lost at St. Shot's, at 4^ p.m., July 16th, 1822. 

 Another vessel, the George Canning, from Chaleur Bay to Aberdeen, was 

 wrecked here, during a dense fog, on June 17th, 1829. 



The five vessels, it may be seen, were all from the Westward, and all, it 

 may be presumed, were set to the Northtoard as well as to the Westward, 

 of the situations which they were supposed to occupy, and the route which 

 each intended to pursue. This can be accounted for only by the supposi- 

 tion of currents winding round the coast, opposing each other, and oper 

 ating as above explained ; for it seems clear that the Westerly current from 

 the Grand Bank so opposes the Easterly one as to limit its operation East- 

 ward, and give it a Northern inflection ; thus producing the indraught into 

 the Southern bays of the island. 



It appears that the South- Westerly current, over the Grand Bank, sets 

 over the whole of the Northern part of that bank. In a summer voyage, 

 on September 30th, 1826, in lat. 46° 24', Lieutenant Hare sounded on the 

 outer edge of the Bank, with thick blowing weather from S.W. ; and, on 

 the next day, in 45° 56' N., 48° 6' W., had no bottom at 120 fathoms, with 

 a verv heavy swell from W.S.W., although he found that a current had 



