52 GENERAL EEMARKS. 



A current, setting southeastward, splits about 2 miles off Fogo 

 head, the main branch running close along the northern coast of Fogo 

 island, and amongst the rocks and islands around it, from ^ to 1^ 

 miles an hour. It is much influenced by wind^ being accelerated by 

 northerl}^ and retarded by southerly winds, while before easterly 

 gales it sometimes runs northwestward. This current, after passing 

 Round head, takes the direction of the coast and is influenced by the 

 tidal stream, the ebb accelerating and the flood retarding it, and occa- 

 sionally, at springs, stopping its southerly course entirely. 



The western branch of this current runs between Change and Fogo 

 islands at the rate of about ^ mile an hour, but is lost before arriving 

 at Stag Harbor tickle. 



For about 30 to 40 miles off the coast between cape Spear and cape 

 Race, the current sets very constantly southward, with a greatest 

 observed rate of lyV miles an hour. It occupies the gully or deep 

 channel over Great bank southeastward of the coast. It is not un- 

 usual, however, for this current to be so disturbed as to set southeast- 

 ward, or even to be reversed on the surface. When such disturbance 

 occurs it is usually for a short time immediately before a gale 

 comes on. 



When the current sets strongly southward along the coast between 

 cape St- Francis and cape Race a strong eddy runs northward for 

 about one mile offshore southward of cape Spear. This should be 

 remembered by ships bound to St. Johns. 



On the south, coast of Newfoundland. — The Arctic current 

 southeastward of cape Race usually turns west-southwestward, occa- 

 sionally at a rae of nearly 1 mile an hour; but it may be reversed 

 or set in other directions in unsettled weather; near the shore, in 

 moderate weather, its direction changes with the wind. 



Westward of cape Race, the current frequently sets northwestward, 

 at the rate of about one mile an hour in the offing, but it is variable 

 in rate and direction, and j^ffected greatly by the prevailing wind. 

 It generally runs in upon the eastern side of the great bays indenting 

 the south coast of Newfoundland, and out on their western side. . In 

 the offhig it is influenced by the winds, and near the shore by the tidal 

 streams. 



It was found, between May and September, 1903, that at a distance 

 of over 5 miles from the land no current at any time exceeded 1 mile 

 an hour in any direction. Within about 5 miles from the land the 

 current was chiefl}^ tidal and set in two opposite directions alter- 

 nately, but the farther from the land the greater the tendency for the 

 direction of the current to veer through a complete circle. The water 

 sets northwestward on the whole along the south coast from cape 

 Race toward Placentia bay; that is to say, when a long average is 

 taken, the set is more frequently in that direction than in any other. 



