Be Se og 
E. B. Hunt on the Florida Guif Stream. 207 
west by the Florida Reef and mainland, and on the south and 
east by Cuba and the Bahama banks. As it is the natural out- 
let for the products of the entire gulf coast and of the valley of ° 
the Mississippi, the present commerce following this route, vast 
as it is, must. ultimately be so far exceeded, that it will seem 
almost insignificant in comparison with that which another half 
century will direct through this channel. The character of this 
navigation, no less than its amount, is such as to demand the 
most careful study of the currents, by which it is so largely in- 
fluenced. All are so familiar with the immense annual losses to 
commerce by wrecks and disasters on the Florida Reefs and 
Bahama Banks, that a simple reference to the fact will abund- 
exorbitant profits to the insurance companies. This makes it 
the interest of these companies to exaggerate the dangers of 3 
g all due : terr 
of the Florida Straits, and for the increased aids to navigation, 
there stil] remains a very serious annual marine loss, due almost 
by false or imperfect views about the Gulf Stream, and other 
currents peortlliste-here, sea captains are frequently so unfortu- 
Teef pilotage, properly organized and well conducted, would 
lead to a great te 
obviated, Skillful pilots, constantly engaged in taking vessels 
ftongh the stisunals would grow more and more certain of all 
€ essentials for secure passages, until it would become a gross 
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