some support to this interpretation of the measurements made during 

 the interval of 27-30 Ma}'. 



Building further on tbis hne of reasoning, the vohime of flow of the 

 total Lal^rador Current would be that passing the northern section of 

 the triangle, 3.47; that of the western branch \\ould be given by the 

 southwestern section, 0.29; and that of the eastern branch would be 

 given by the difference, 3.18. Thus, about 92 percent of the total 

 would have been following the eastern branch. 



In the partial occupation of the triangle during 13-15 July the 

 volume of flow past the northern section was computed to be 2.79 after 

 subtraction of an eddy of 0.42 at the oft'shore end of the section. The 

 volume of flow past the southwestern section was computed to be 

 0.46 leaving 2.33 by difference as that part of Labrador Current in the 

 eastern branch or 84 percent of the total. From the topography an 

 estimate of doubtful accuracy is made that bergs passing the 49th 

 parallel eastward of about 52°30' W., would have followed the eastern 

 branch and that those passing the 49th parallel westward of about 

 52°45' W., would have followed the western branch, with those passing 

 at intei'mediate longitudes stranding on the nortliern edi^e of the 

 Grand Banks. 



In the second partial occupation of the triangle during 28-30 July 

 the inshore part of the northern section shows some northerly moving 

 water possibly indicating an eddy at the mouth of Bonavista Bay. 

 Apparently all of the Labrador Current passing the northern section 

 also passes the southeastern section in the eastern branch with none 

 of it feeding the western branch. The computed volumes of flow past 

 tlie northern and southeastern sections were 3.11 and 3.26 respectively. 

 \Miile this is taken to mean that 100 percent of the Labrador Current 

 reaching the triangle followed the eastern branch, there are some indi- 

 cations that inshore bergs getting south of the latitude of Cape Bona- 

 vista would have grounded on the northern edge of the Grand Banks. 



In each of the two partial occupations of the triangle there are some 

 areas of disagreement as to the direction of the surface currents as 

 deduced from the dynamic topography and as indicated by the von 

 Arx current meter. This is to be expected in an area where tidal cur- 

 rents are known to exist. Also, in each of these partial triangles the 

 current pattern given by the dynamic topography at the 100-decibar 

 surface is in general agreement with that at the sea surface. The ex- 

 perience gained in 1950 makes it plain that reliable conclusions regard- 

 ing the behavior of the Labrador Current in the vicinity of this branch 

 point cannot be based on the occupation of only two sides of the tri- 

 angle. 



The difterence of only about 10 percent in the total Labrador Cvn-- 

 rent reaching the triangle during the two partial occupations is not 

 remarkable. 1 he diff"erence between this approximately 3 million 



81 



