THE AECTIC OR LABRADOR CURRENT. 437 



carried him S. 67° W., 34 miles. Thus appeared, in close conjunction, a 

 South- Westerly current, with another from W.S.W., where the edges of 

 the two entered into collision with each other. 



(436.) In August, 1885, Captain Lugar, of the cable-steamer Mackay 

 Bennett, states that the current was found running S.S.E., at the rate of 

 three-quarters of a mile an hour, when about 45 miles Eastward of the 

 Flemish Cap, or in lat. 47° 30' N., long. 44° 4' W. At 60 miles farther 

 Eastward, in lat. 48° 0', long. 42° 35', the current set about N.N.E., 1^ to 

 2^ miles per hour. 



On August 9th, 1885, the cable-ship Minia, when in lat. 48° 2', long. 

 42° 24', found the current setting South- Westward, 1 knot per hour ; then 

 the surface temperature suddenly rose 11°, and the current turned to N.E., 

 2 knots per hour. Captain Trott, of the Minia, in December, 1884, found 

 the cold current setting strongly along the Southern edge of the Grand 

 Bank. In lat. 43° 10' N., long. 49° 30' W., it was observed setting 

 S.W., 2-3 miles per hour, but during the same period no current was found 

 on the bank itself. Eastward of long. 48° 45' W., a set to the Eastward 

 and N.B. was observed ; the change in direction being clearly indicated by 

 a rise in the temperature of the water from 36° to 41° F. 



The same vessel, when off the S.E. part of the Grand Bank, between 

 lat. 43° N. and 44° N., and long. 48° and 49^° W., during July and August, 

 1885, found the currents very irregular in direction and strength ; but 

 generally to the South- Westward in December, from 1 to 3 knots. Fairly 

 regular tides were experienced on the edge of the bank during fine weather, 

 and sometimes slight currents from all points of the compass. 



(437.) A branch of the Labrador Current usually sets into the Strait of 

 Belle Isle, between the island and the coast of Labrador, transporting 

 immense quantities of Ice in some years into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, if 

 the bergs are not too large to be intercepted by the moderate depth of the 

 strait, although this feature varies very much indeed in different years. 

 This Current has been observed to run 2 miles an hour with the wind from 

 N.E., while at other times it is almost insensible, and it is stated some- 

 times to run in the opposite direction, especially during the ebb tides with 

 S.W. winds. After it enters the Gulf, it runs 39 or 40 miles farther, when 

 it becomes dispersed and merged into the general streams. 



The current which sets out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, between New- 

 foundland and Cape Breton Island, also adds its effect to the main branch 

 of the Labrador Current setting to the S.W. It is composed of the stream 

 of fresh water which constantly sets down the river, and the branch of the 

 Labrador Current passing through the Strait of Belle Isle. This outset is 

 very frequently of some considerable strength, especially with Westerly 

 winds or in calm weather. But its strength is reduced, or it is even re- 

 tarded altogether, with opposing winds, which have a powerful effect on it 

 at all times. 



Both these currents are modified by the Tides, but in a way directly 

 contrary ; for, while the Strait of Belle Isle current is quickened by the 

 flood, and retarded by the ebb, the other is increased by the ebb, and 

 checked by the flood which enters the Gulf from the Southward. The tidal 

 hour is therefore important in estimating the probable set of these currents, 



