C UREEMTS, BEKENG SEA AND ARCTIC OCEAN. 



The following is quoted from the U.S. Coast Pilot, Alaska, 

 Part II, 1931: 



Between Cape Cheerful and St, George Island the current is not 

 believed to have any decided set or flow unless influenced by the wind. 

 With a strong wind a current is likely to set with it, but -g- point 

 allowance in a course will be sufficient to ovGrcomo any set that will 

 bo found in this vicinity duo to this cause, _ 



BotTJGon St. Matthow and Nunivak Islands the sot of the current 

 is northward; with prevailing northeast winds it sots northwest, and with 

 northwest and southwest winds, northoast. This northerly current con- 

 tinues and incroasos botv/oon St. Lawronco Island and the mainland, being 

 stronger toward the mainland north of the mouth of the Yukon River, whore 

 it amounts to about 1 knot, except in the early summer, viLon, increased 

 by the freshets in the- Yukon, it may amount to 2 knots or more. A 

 strong northeasterly current setting on the Yukon flats has been observed, 

 amounting at times to 2-V knots. The current sots north across Norton 

 So-'ond to Sledge Island and then follows the cor?.st to Boring Strait. It 

 is strongly marked between Slodgo Island and Boring Strait, 



In Boring Strait the current sets north, and when not influenced by 

 wind its velocity is about 2 knots an hour. Protracted northerly gales 

 which prevail in the autumn change its direction to southward, but on 

 the cessation of the ^vind it quickly sot north again. Strong southerly 

 gales increase its velocity to 3 laiots. The current is stroriger east of 

 tho Diomedo Islands than west of. thorn. 



From Bering Strait to Point Barrow there is a general' current setting 

 northward alongshore (stronger inshore), which, when not affected by winds 

 or stopped by the ice, has a velocity of not less than 1 knot at any part 

 of it. The current from the strait turns northeastward and is joined north 

 of Cape Krusenstern by that from Kotzebue Sound. From Eschscholtz Bay a 

 northerly current sets alongshore on the eastern side of Kotzebue Sound, 

 having a velocity of ■^- to 1 knot at Capo Blossom, It continues past Cape 

 Krusenstern, where it is incroasod by the flow from Hothaia Inlet to a 

 velocity of 1 to 2 knots, and northward of the oape joins the current 

 from Bering Strait, where, in the latter part of July and August, its 

 velocity is 1-| to 2 knots. It continues with the same velocity around 

 Point Hope, then with a reduced velocity to Cape Lisbumo and across to 

 a short distance south of Point Lay, A_'tor rounding Point Hope, and thence 

 to Icy Cape, the curr.nt does not appear so strong, and, as a rule, is 

 about 1 knot. 



In the bight between Cape Lisburno and Cape Boaufort there is a tidal 

 current, and unless driven in by a westerly wind the outside general 

 current is not felt. 



Northward of Point Lay, if the ice has not opened up from the shore, 

 the current is stopped; but if the ice is open to Point Barrow, the 

 current continues along the shore and, because of the contracted space 

 between the shore and the ice, increases in velocity to from 2 to 5 knots and 

 sometimes more at Point Barrow, , 



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