CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



489 



ness of the Labrador Stream in passing them, has prevented navi- 

 gators from taking the full advantage they might have derived from 

 their knowledge of its existence. Of the loss of time frequently 

 growing out of this difficulty, I had myself an instance in a voyage 

 from Europe in the winter of 1836-37. Captain Hebberd, who com- 

 manded the vessel in which I was passenger, feared that he might 

 approach too near to the shoals of George's Bank and Nantucket, 

 and therefore, when opposed by a westerly wind, made tacks that 

 carried him within the influence of the Gulf Stream. Since that 

 time, in the summer of 1837, I was employed in the survey of the 

 shoal on George's Bank, and after having explored every part of 

 it, am satisfied that the alleged dangers do not exist to the extent 

 believed. During the continuance of that survey, I spoke and made 

 inquiries of many masters of coasters, all of whom confirmed the 

 fact of the existence of a stream of cold water between the Gulf 

 Stream and soundings. In this cold and favouring stream, vessels 

 homeward-bound may be kept without difficulty or danger, by a due 

 attention to the indications of the thermometer and lead-line : the 

 former showing when the adverse stream of the Gulf is entered, the 

 latter, when the variable currents of the shore are met with, or the 

 dangers approached. In the navigation of this part of the ocean, 

 great attention ought to be paid to keep within this stream, by all 

 those who desire to effect a speedy passage from Europe. 



Circumstances afforded me a very favourable opportunity for obser- 

 vations upon the Gulf Stream. We met in it with light, winds, 

 which rendered our progress so slow, that we were forty-eight hours 

 in crossing it, during thirty-nine of which we were sailing at right 

 angles to its direction, a course the most favourable for the purpose. 

 The remaining nine hours we were heading the stream. The fact 

 of our having entered the stream was immediately detected by the 

 thermometer, indicating a sudden rise of the temperature of the 

 water ; and the lightness of the wind enabled us to repeat the observa- 

 tions frequently. These observations are recorded in the following 



register. 









Aug. 20. 



TEMP. OF WATER 



Aug. 21. 



TEMP. OF WATER 



7 A. M. 



77° 



12 M. 



82-3° 



8 " 



79 



1 P. M. 



83 



9 " 



81 



2 " 



83 



10 " 



81 



3 " 



83 



11 " 



81-5 



4 " 



83 



VOL. V. 





123 





