70 H. Mitchell on recent soundings in the Gulf Stream. 
least develops and gauges the difficulties of the task, and inci- 
dentally adds a few items of interest to physical inquiry. 
he line of maximam depression was struck at a point 24 
miles north of the Moro, and followed some distance to the north- 
east with depths of 858, 845 and 794 fathoms. The direction 
of this line does not correspond to that of the Gulf Stream in 
this neighborhood; but a glance at the map will show thata 
.W. course would be a natural one for the Polar Current, as 
it is called, which runs near the bottom. 
The numerous soundings of this survey make it possible to 
develop a profile of section from Sand Key to the Moro, and the 
subjoined table gives the numerical data for such a profile. 
Section of Soundings across the Straits of Florida, from Sand Key 
to El Moro. 
g8 | Distances from ‘ a4 Ss 
=S | sand | EI [By Indi|Byoutrun|= =| 2 Remarks. 
a=! Key. |Moro.} cator. | of line. FF) 25 
A 23 794 rock. Coral strewn over with shells, 
= BT ¢ to 83) 744 111 125 | 5 | “ |Specimen of coral debris obtained. 
eo 8H met ig) ia + FT * 
2:D 144 | 67%} 2-9} 309 | 2/| “ |Specimen of coral debris, 
S2E 184 | 64 369 7 | 1 |mud.|Specimen of gray mud, 
3 F 243 | 58 432 | 466 | 1; “ (Specimen of mud nearly white. 
zo "| 294 | 53h) 504; 553 | 2) “ [Specimen nearly white with dashes 
= of red. 
S H 384 4841 6ST 1 | “ [Specimen of stiff mud, nearly white. 
I 38 444) 794) =; | 1) “ (Specimen gray and granular mu 
gs 
‘ ' 454 | 362 | 845 <3 1-| “ (Specimen nearly white with red 
= 4 tinge. 
3S h 514 | 81 842} S2 | 38] “ |Specimen same as above. 
Es g 6552 | 263 / 813 =z | 21 “ (Specimen same as above, 
ae f 222 | 455 =2 | 2] “ (Specimen of mud with drab color. 
See 614 | WE} 380} == | 1} “ |No specimen—some doubt of cast. 
eed 674 |15 | 710| 2 1 hard. 
5s 6 3G 74 1 |mud. 
3 b Ist 34 583 620 1 jsand.\Sand or m ud of reddish brown hue. 
al 804 1 243 4 1 jrock.| A small shell obtained. 
In this profile, which is, strictly speaking, that of a diagonal 
section, the point of maximum depression is found 37 miles 
from the Moro, and is 843 fathoms. The approaches to the great 
valley from the two coasts are dissimilar in general features. 
rom the northward the bottom falls away in terraces whose in- 
tervening slopes are nowhere abrupt; while from the southward 
an irregular and hilly approach is found with indications of ab- 
rupt if not precipitous changes of elevation. Above the terra- 
ees of the north shore the sea lies almost motionless, while 
among the cafions of the southern half of the Straits flow the 
Gulf and its counter currents, 
