On the Gulf, Stream and Currents of the Sea, 181 



Among them, circumstances seem to invite enquiry as to the 

 probabiUty of a " gulf stream" in the North Pacific. The resort 

 of whales about Japan, as about Newfoundland, in the same 

 latitude — the European-like climate of Oregon — the thunder 

 storms encountered in high Pacific latitudes out of season, 

 and the absence of whales in the same region, all appear to 

 indicate, between northwestern America and northeastern Asia, 

 the presence of a large body of warm water. The probability of 

 such a current there seems to become stronger, and its similarity 

 to the Gulf Stream more striking, from the fact, that the extreme 

 cold of northeastern Asia corresponds with our northeastern 

 climate, indicating thereby the existence of a cold current corres- 

 ponding to that on our Atlantic coast, where certain cold water 

 fish are known to resort.* 



We have seen how useful currents are in the economy of the 

 ocean, and how important to a safe and speedy navigation is the 

 knowledge of them. 



In the beautiful system of cosmical arrangements and terrestrial 

 adaptations by which we are surrounded, they perform active and 

 important parts ; they not only dispense heat, and moisture, and 

 temper climates, but they prevent stagnation in the sea ; and by 

 their active circulation, transport food and sustenance for its in- 

 habitants from one region to another, and people all parts of it 

 with life and animation. Yet, on this interesting subject former 

 observations have thrown only just light enough to make visible 

 the darkness through which we are groping. 



* Captain, now Admiral Dupetit TJiuars found a surface temperature of 79° 

 (Far.) one thousand miles east of Japan, which clearly indicates such a stream. 

 And its existence is further confirmed by Mr. Redfield, who has formed his con- 

 clusions from information derived from our whale-men. This being the case, we 

 should have a cold current from Beehring's Straits, to answer to the one on this 

 side from Baffin's Bay. 



