CURRENTS AND WHALING. 5H 



the equator, and are merged in the western equatorial streams, which, 

 directed upon the eastern coasts of the opposite continents, and 

 warmed by exposure to the sun, become the heated streams with 

 which our recapitulation commenced. 



The number of recorded facts is as yet too few to furnish any thing 

 like sufficient satisfactory data inductive to any theory; there can 

 be no doubt, however, that the great and sufficient cause is the un- 

 equal distribution of heat over the earth's surface. How the streams, 

 currents, and counter-currents are affected by the continents, is within 

 the reach of legitimate inquiry ; but how the character and form of 

 the bed of the ocean may influence them, seems at present beyond 

 investigation. 



The best possible information on the currents is of great impor- 

 tance to the navigator ; next to the winds they claim his attention ; 

 the winds in their turn are very much influenced by the former. 



The great and at times perplexing variations of currents have been 

 felt by all navigators : these it will be at once seen may be attributed 

 to the anomalous periodic changes that are known to occur, placing all 

 calculations at nought. 



The trades, the monsoons, and other steady or periodic winds, as 

 well as the variable winds of the temperate zones, are either caused 

 or much influenced by the manner in which temperature is dis- 

 tributed over the surface of the ocean, by the polar and equatorial 

 streams. It is therefore proper that, as immediately connected with 

 this subject, we should mention the spaces which lie between the 

 zones of the trade and westerly winds, and which are usually the seat 

 of light variable winds and calms. The existence of such a zone in 

 the North Atlantic has long been known, and we have assured our- 

 selves of the existence of similar zones in the other oceans, though 

 not to so great an extent. They lie on each side of the parallels of 

 30° in both hemispheres, and are about three hundred miles in 

 breadth. Leaving out of account the effect of the great currents of 

 the atmosphere, we find this space to be a sort of eddy, in which the 

 polar and equatorial flow of waters neutralize each other, and where 

 therefore, all the floating matter that is brought by both must 

 accumulate. I shall have occasion to refer to this view of these 

 zones hereafter, as connected with the subject of whaling. 



If, however, the view I have taken of the flow of the waters of the 

 ocean and their results be correct, which the facts we observed and 



