Miscellanies. 181 



we experienced strong currents to the west, in conformity with Hum- 

 bolt's theory of an indraft into the Caribbean Sea, occasioned by an 

 equatorial current." Mr. R. gives a table of comparison between 

 the ship's place by observation and that obtained by the log, with the 

 drifts and force of the current for twenty-four hours. 



9. Sargasso Weeds. — In the North Atlantic Ocean, coming from the 

 South you fall in about the tropic, with the Sargasso weeds, collec- 

 ted in narrow lines extending in the direction in which the trade wind 

 blows, that is E. N. E. and W. S. W., and the eye cannot see the end 

 of them on either side of the vessel. These lines run constantly par- 

 allel to each other, and the nearer yovi come to the middle of the 

 Sargasso sea, the thicker it is strewed with weeds, and the closer the 

 lines approach to one another, being in some places but fifteen feet 

 asunder. Home bound ships have a better opportunity of observing 

 these lines, as they cross nearly at right angles, and can trace their 

 continuation more conveniently on both sides, observing one line after 

 another in rapid succession. 



These weeds occupy the zone from about 20° to 35° north latitude, 

 which may, however, differ according to the longitude in which you 

 cross it. Towards the zone's northern extremes, the weeds are less 

 regularly formed in lines, which may arise from their being less me- 

 thodically acted upon by the trade winds that seem to occasion their 

 order. They have been termed gulf weeds by sailors, who believed 

 them to be driven out of the gulf by the Florida stream; nor is this- 

 opinion entirely refuted by the experience that they are rarely met 

 with in the gulf. For the weed swimming on the surface of the At- 

 lantic is withered, decayed, and incrutsed with salt, which proves the 

 time it has been exposed to the sun, and is of a brownish yellow color,, 

 whilst you rarely meet with a green bunch ; that, being heavier, on 

 account of its higher state of vegetation, swims several feet below 

 the surface. It is true that not with certainty can any roots, thicker 

 branches, or stems be perceived, wherewith they might have adhered 

 to the rocks or the ground : nevertheless, as these weeds abound with 

 animals that do not live upon the surface, but inhabit the bottom of 

 the sea, such as crabs, shrimps, barnacles, conchilias of all descrip- 

 tions, and serpents, I have no doubts that they originated in a shallow 

 basin of water, out of which they were swept by the force of a cur- 

 rent along the bottom, until the heavier vegetable fluid being exhaust- 

 ed, they rose to the surface. Moreover they are never seen near the 

 European or African coasts, but most plentifully found about the en- 

 trance of the gulf. — Phil Mag: and Ann. Decern. 1830. 



