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2 ~~ —s«S. LeConte on the Silver-Spring in Florida. 
“basin i is nearly circular in shape, about 200 feet in diameter, and 
is surrounded by hills’ cicrta with live-oaks, magnolias, bays, 
and other gigantic evergree The amount of water discharged 
is so large, that small sonnets and barges readily navigate ‘the * 
Silver Spring” up to the pool or head-spring, where there is a 
landing for the shipment of cotton, sugar, and other produce. 
These steamers and barges make regular trips between the Silver | 
Spring and Palatka on the St. Johns. The boatmen pombe me _ 
that at its junction with the Ochlawaha, more than one half of | 
the water is contributed by the Silver Spring stream. By means | 
of a canoe, I explored the stream for about two miles from its j 
head ; its breadth varied from 45 to 100 feet, and its depth, in the 
shallowest parts, from 10 to 15 feet: the smallest depth measured 
— no t less than 10 feet in the channel of the stream 
We 
ae So eee 
arc ely ever exceeding two 6 feet 
These ico « of "level seem rs be connected with the season 
of rains. € commencement of the rainy season varies from 
the 15th of June to the 15th of July. The waters of the spring 
begin to rise about the middle of the season of summer rains, 
and attain their maximum height about its termination. e 
maximum depth of water in the pool or basin constituting the 
head of the silver spring, was found to be not more than 86 feet 
in the deepest crevice from which the water boils up: the gen- 
eral depth in the — and deep parts of the basin was found 
to be about 30 feet. These measurements were made by means 
of a heavy plumb-bob attached to a twine, to which bits of 
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hoy of f inverse squares, 
Doubtless, the greater portion of the Mince’ which fom int 
gags ng river is furnished by this p . 
