1865.] Tlie United States Coast Survey. 345 



interest. Even before the outbreak of hostilities, he appears to have 

 been a marked man, for Professor Bache, on losing his services as 

 superintendent of the hydrographic work of the Western coast, speaks 

 of " the strength of his indomitable will," and pays a high tribute to 

 his " well-known energy and intelligence, which gave large promise of 

 public benefit." 



The topography of the coast is now completed along nearly three- 

 fourths of the Eastern seabord of the United States, as they were in 

 1860, and the hydrography has extended pari passu. Of the maps 

 which are published there are three classes. The first is on a scale 

 of 53^53, embracing the coast as far inland as the nearest main road, 

 and a considerable distance at sea. These are highly-finished charts. 

 The second is of a more general character, and on the much smaller 

 scale of 4 3o!ooo) or about six miles to an inch. These are intended 

 to enable the navigator to recognize the general features of the coast, 

 and they contain soundings to a depth of at least 120 fathoms sea- 

 ward, as also selected inshore ones, so as to give a general idea of the 

 form of the bottom in bays, estuaries, and harbours. The third class 

 are special charts of harbours, anchorages, &c, on various scales 

 from 5^55 to §5^ of the natural size, with minute details of sound- 

 ings, tides, and currents. Besides the above, a new series of charts, 

 planned in 1857 by Mr. Boshke, is in course of construction, by which 

 the whole coast line of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico will be por- 

 trayed in 32 charts, on a scale of sjo^oo? or about three miles to an 

 inch. These will be arranged so as to be capable of being mounted 

 in a continuous sheet, and are intended to decorate the walls of public 

 buildings, offices, and dwellings. 



During the progress of the Coast Survey, special observations have 

 been made with a view to determining the outline, depth, and other 

 phenomena of that mighty ocean-river, the Gulf Stream, to whose 

 beneficent influence the British Islands are so largely indebted both 

 for the humidity and mildness of their climate. The hydrography of 

 the Gulf Stream is now very generally understood, especially from the 

 writings of Captain Maury, of the Confederate Navy. There is one 

 point, however, indicated in Plate 28 of " The Beport," which we 

 do not recollect to have previously observed, and which may there- 

 fore have escaped the notice of others ; we refer to the position of the 

 axis of the stream with respect to the outer and inner " Cold Walls." 

 The axis (or line of greatest velocity at the surface) occupies a very 

 peculiar position ; for it is not, as might perhaps have been expected, 

 in the centre, or even near the centre between the two walls, but 

 throughout its entire length, from near the extremity of Florida to 

 the banks of Newfoundland, it occupies a position from one-third to 

 one-sixth of the breadth of the stream towards the American shore : 

 in other words, it is from three to six times farther from the outer 

 wall than from the inner. Into the causes of this feature in the cur- 

 rent of the stream we cannot here fully enter. It is evident, that all 

 along its course till it assumes its easterly direction across the Atlantic, 

 the waters are pent up against the north-western wall. The forces 



