No. 2. — Reports on the Results of Dredging, under the Supervision 
of ALEXANDER AGASSIZ, along the Atlantic Coast of the United 
States, during the Summer of 1880, by the U. S. Coast Survey 
Steamer “ Blake,’ COMMANDER J. R. Bart ert, U. S. N., Com- 
manding. 
(Published by permission of CartrLe P. Patterson and J. E. Hitearp, Super- 
intendents of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.) 
XXII. 
A Chapter in the History of the Gulf Stream. By ALEXANDER 
AGASSIZ. 
. 
Tuer soundings of the “ Blake” during the dredging season of 1880 
developed some striking features in the profile of the slope extending 
eastward from the shore along the Atlantic coast, south of Cape Hat- 
teras to the northern extremity of Florida. The soundings previously 
‘ taken in deep water between the northern extremity of the Bahamas 
and Cape Hatteras varied greatly, and but little reliance could be placed 
upon them. The few lines run in 1880 normal to the coast, and the 
line run parallel to the so-called axis of the Gulf Stream, showed the 
probable existence of an immense submarine plateau extending eastward 
from the Atlantic shores. Either the eastern edge of this plateau was 
not reached in 1880, or else the soundings indicated a very gradual 
slope from the shore to deep water along the whole coast line south of 
Cape Hatteras as far as the northern part of Florida. 
Everywhere else along the Atlantic coast of the United States, north 
of Cape Hatteras and in the Gulf of Mexico, the continental line of one 
hundred fathoms is most plainly marked, forming the upper edge of 
the more or less abrupt descent leading into deep water with a regular 
inclination. Owing to the absence of this hundred-fathom line south 
of Cape Hatteras, it became an interesting problem to trace the exact 
profile of that part of the coast, and to extend it into deep water. The 
season of 1881 was spent by Commander Bartlett in the “ Blake,” 
under the direction of the Hon. Carlile P. Patterson, the late Superin- 
VOL. XI.—NO, 2. 
