FOREWORD 



This report is intended to help meet a need for the identification 

 of the major currents off the west coasts of North and South America 

 and a comprehensive summary of their principal characteristics. The 

 information given herein is based on published reports and directly 

 measured data, as veil as considerable unpublished data, of which a 

 large amount has recently been obtained. Much of these data has been 

 analyzed specifically for this report. 



This is the second of a planned series of three reports. The 

 first includes descriptions of the currents of the Worth and South 

 Atlantic Oceans. 



F. L. SIATTERY 



Captain, U. S. Ns 



Commander 



Naval Oceanographic Office 



