CUREENTS. 53 



The water makes inwards at certain times of the tide on the eastern 

 side of St. Marys bay, and inwards as a whole on the eastern side of 

 Placentia bay; the rate of these indrafts does not exceed 1 mile 

 an hour at a distance of 5 miles from the land, but close to the head- 

 lands the rate of the streams may be greater. 



On the south coast of Newfoundland, between St. Pierre island 

 and cape Ray, the current usually sets northwestward and passes 

 round cape Ray into the gulf, but it is not constant. 



Many wrecks have occurred in fog, on the southeast and south 

 coasts of Newfoundland, owing to the indraught, or to the current 

 temporarily setting northeastward. 



On the eastern edge of the Great bank the currents are very 

 variable. 



On the Great bank the ordinary set of the current is southwest- 

 ward, but it is by no means unusual for the current to set northeast- 

 ward, and sometimes it is very variable. 



During south to southwesterly winds there may be a strong north- 

 erly set; this may be still stronger during and after northeasterly 

 winds. 



A southerly current has at times been experienced on the above 

 banks, but it is exceptional. 



Caution. — Mariners approaching Newfoundland in thick weather 

 should use the lead and proceed with caution, as it is impossible to 

 foretell what current they may have experienced or be experiencing. 



Sailing vessels should keep a good offing on the south coast of New- 

 foundland, as the wind often falls light near it, and the drift of the 

 sea and current are nearly toward the land, especially near Placentia 

 and St, Mary's bays. 



In Cabot strait. — In ordinary weather the northwest current is 

 felt for a width of 10 to 15 miles from cape Ray, or even farther. 

 In August at 13 miles westward of that cape its rate varied from ^ 

 mile to 1^ miles an hour ; but this current is by no means constant. 



On the western side of Cabot strait to about 12 miles eastward of 

 St, Paul island, there is a fairly constant current setting between 

 south and southeast; its rate is usually from ^ mile to 1^ miles an 

 hour, but after a strong northwesterly wind it has reached a rate of 

 2| miles. It may, also, be checked or reversed for a few days at a time 

 by strong southeasterly winds. Its greatest rate is off cape North, 

 where it may be as much as 2 miles an hour in ordinary weather. 

 Sometimes it extends nearly across the strait. 



This current continues to be felt along the eastern coast of cape 

 Breton island, sometimes as far as Scatari island. It is probably 

 affected by the tidal streams, accelerated by the ebb, and retarded by 

 the flood. 



