IN THE WEST INDIES. 521 



If bound to the tirst, it is necessary, in whatever season, to proceed directly 

 to it ; that is, in the season of the Norths, to steer from Cape Tiburon, to 

 make some point on the South of Cuba to windward of the intended port, 

 or even to windward of Guantanamo ; and in the season of the Souths, to 

 steer from the Point of Mole St. Nicholas almost West for the port, 

 marking, in the first instance, various points on the coast of Cuba. 



// bound to Havana, in the time of the Norths, you should pass to the 

 Southward of Cuba, although you will have to return the distance between 

 Cape Antonio and Havana ; because this inconvenience is not comparable 

 to that which might be occasioned on the North side of the island by a 

 hard North, which would not only expose a vessel to heavy risks, but 

 might protract the voyage much longer than the course above described, 

 because the distance in the latter case may be worked up in a short time. 



From St. lago de Cuba, as the coast is clear, a vessel for Europe may 

 easily make her way by the Windward Passages, while all those which are 

 bound from Havana will take the Strait of Florida. 



By the Strait of Florida we understand the space included between the 

 meridian of the Dry Tortugas and the parallel of Cape Canaveral. The 

 simple inspection of the chart will show this to be a bed or course, which, 

 like a river, conducts the water to the Northward. This river, the Gulf 

 Stream, flows first to the E.N.E. as far as the Western meridian of the 

 Double Shot Kays, by which Kays the stream is diverted from E.N.E. to 

 N. by E., the direction which it pursues on the parallel of Cape Florida ; 

 thence to Cape Canaveral it runs North, with something of an inclination 

 to the East. 



As it is undoubted that this general current is caused by a super- 

 abundance of waters, which seek, by this drain, to regain their level in the 

 open ocean, it follows that its rapidity will be greater or less, according to 

 the said superabundance of waters ; but as a change cannot be momentary, 

 on account of the great reservoir in which the water is contained, but pro- 

 gressive, and of course slow, we hold that, having once ascertained the 

 velocity of the current, we may calculate it for three days or more in 

 advance without much error, if the wind remains in the same direction ; 

 for an alteration in the wind may affect the force of the current con- 

 siderably, as already explained on page 394. 



On the meridian of Havana strips of current are, at times, found setting 

 to the E.S.E. and S.E. from the Tortugas Soundings. Care should be 

 taken not to confuse the Southern differences, caused by this branch of 



the current, with those caused by the eddy current near the Colorados 



the one giving Eastern departure, the other West. The distinction is very 

 clear, and can admit of no doubt, because the eddy current is met only 

 from the meridians of Cavanas and Bahia Honda to Cape Antonio, and 

 not farther out from the coast than the parallel of 23°. 



As the velocity of the current varies, it is requisite for every navigator 

 to ascertain its strength as frequently as possible, while within the 

 Stream. Every one who enters this channel, having marked well either 

 the lands of Cuba or the Florida Eeef, so as accurately to estabhsh this 

 point of departure, ought to determine, in his first day's work, the 

 N. A. 0. 



