660 PASSAGES OVEE THE ATLANTIC. 



could not be employed to lessen the danger. Accordingly, E. B. Forbes, Esq., 

 of Boston, proposed one track for steacaers going to, and another for those 

 coming from America. This problem was worked out by Captain Maury, 

 and his recommendations have been of great service. Owing, however, to 

 the changed conditions of navigation, and the want of general agreement 

 among the steamship lines, his routes are not now generally followed, 

 being superseded by others, founded on them, and hereafter described 

 Captain Maury's remarks, however, are still of considerable value, and are 

 as follows. 



" The shortest distance possible for a steamer between Liverpool and 

 Sandy Hook is 3,009 miles ; the average distance actually accomplished 

 is 3,069 miles ; and the distance by the middle of the Lane coming West- 

 ward is 3,038. There is also another recommendation in favour of this 

 Lane to the West, which is this : it lies along the Northern edge of the 

 Gulf Stream, where there is an eddy setting Westward often at the rate 

 of a knot an hour. On the average, I assume that the set of this eddy 

 will amount to 12 miles a day for 3^ days, or say 40 miles. This makes 

 the distance by the Lane coming Westward practically about 2,998 miles ; 

 or, allowing 20 miles for detour, we shall have 3,018 miles, which will 

 shorten the average time of the passage this way three or four hours, with 

 less risk of collision, and less danger from Cape Eace by the way. 



" It may be urged against this Lane that it cannot always be followed, 

 on account of the Ice, and that, inasmuch as it crosses the Grand Banks, 

 the steamers that ply in it may now and then run down a fishing vessel.* 

 The reply is that, as far as the fishermen are concerned, they are now 

 liable to be run down by the steamers both going and coming. Whereas, 

 with the Lane, that liability is incident to the steamers alone that are 

 Westwardly bound, and the fishermen wiU have the advantage of knowing 

 pretty nearly where the steamer will pass, and which way she will be 

 coming. And as for its being obstructed by Ice, so as to compel the 

 steamers, as it occasionally will, especially in May or June, to turn out of 

 it now and then, the Erie Canal, of New York, is obstructed by ice the 

 whole of every winter, but that does not prove it to be of no value ; it 

 only shows that it, like this Lane, would be of more value to commerce if 

 it were never obstructed by ice, or anything at all. 



" The Grand Banks afford a pretty good landmark, which can be used in 

 the thickest weather. Generally the water temperature is found to fall as 

 soon as your near these Banks ; it is generally a good landmark for them. 

 The Eastern edge runs North and South, and, therefore, affords an ex- 

 cellent correction for longitude. Having ascertained by the lead when 

 the vessel first strikes this- edge, then noting the soundings and the 

 distance run before clearing the Grand Banks, the latitude will also be 

 known with accuracy sufficient to enable the navigator to decide whether 

 he be in or out of the Lane, and, if out, on which side. The Lane crosses 



• The American fishing vessels put to sea about the middle of April, and in June, 

 July, August, and September, steamers crossing the Banks should keep a good look-out 

 lor them, especially in foggy weather. At the end of September or October, they return 

 home, and until the spring many boats lay up, or are usually limited to the George's 

 and Brown Banks and New England shore. 



