ICE IN THE AECTIC CUEEENT. 440 



cross the Gulf Current, in a region where its average breadth has been 

 found to be about 250 miles." Other observations on this subject have 

 been given in the chapter on the Gulf Stream. 



To the Southward the extent of the Ice-drift is uncertain, as it depends 

 upon two causes : the one, the force and extent of the Arctic Current from 

 the Northward ; and the other, the depth to which the Icebergs are 

 immersed. As before mentioned, there appears to be a perpetual struggle 

 between the opposing forces of the Arctic Current and the Gulf Stream to 

 the Southward of the Banks, The area where these currents meet i& 

 nearly always distinguishable by the rips caused by the interlacing of the 

 two streams, but this process is made more apparent during the season of the 

 Ice-drifts by deeply immersed Bergs passing quite into the course of the 

 Gulf Stream, under the influence of which they rapidly disappear. The 

 view now accepted of this phenomenon is that the Gulf Stream partly 

 overruns the cool waters proceeding Southward and South- Westward ; 

 and although the Northern edge of the warm waters of the Stream is 

 met with in the summer months over the Southern end of the Newfound- 

 land Banks, or as high as 45° N., yet these Bergs have been found drifting 

 as far South as lat. 39° N., and even to 36° 10', long. 39° W., or 650 miles 

 South- Westward of the Banks, and beyond the limits of the Gulf Stream. 

 Instances are also on record of their being seen within 60 miles W.N.W. 

 of the island of Corvo. 



During a regular season Ice is specially to be met with between, lat. 

 42° and 45° N., long. 47° and 52° W. Its Southern hmit varies generally 

 between 40° and 41|^° N. From temperature observations it is found 

 that the Arctic Current pushes 2° or 3° farther South, between long. 48'' 

 and 50° W., and therefore the extreme Southern limit of Ice will most 

 probably be found between these meridians. To avoid dangerous Ice, 

 vessels therefore, in April, May, and June, should not cross the meridian 

 of 50° W., North of the parallel of 39° 30' N. 



From March to July Icebergs may be encountered on the meridian of 

 50°, between 40° and 52° N., but occasionally as far Eastward as 39° or 

 38° W., when their Southern limit will probably be 39° or 38° N. in 45° W. 

 From July to September, Bergs may still be met with as far Eastward 

 as 38° W., near 44° or 45° N., but more to the Westward (say 50° W.) as 

 low as 43° to 41° N.* On June 25th, 1886, at 8 p.m., the captain of the 

 brig Blanche sighted a large Iceberg, 20 to 30 ft. high. In the morning 

 it was still near the vessel, in lat. 48° 40' N., long. 15° 22' W., and he 

 naturally remarked that he never expected to see an Iceberg so far to the 

 Eastward. This is the farthest point to the Eastward in which we have 

 a record of Ice being met with. 



In April, May, and June, 1890, enormous quantities of Ice were seen, 

 as far East as the 35th meridian. One vessel reported 140 Bergs, some 

 250 ft. high and 1,000 ft. long. 



On July 10th, 1890, a small piece of Ice, supposed to be the remainder 

 of a Berg, was seen from the steamer Slavonia, in lat. 48° 53' N., long. 

 2 4° 11' W. 



* Nautical Magazine, July, 1890, page 580. 



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