CURRENTS AND WHALING. 
461 
the influence of the Gulf Stream. Since that tiftae, 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 diffi¬ 
culty or danger, by a due attention to the indications of the thermo¬ 
meter 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 1 
7 A. M. 
77° 
1 A. M. 
80° 
8 “ 
79 
2 
ii 
80 
9 “ 
81 
3 
Cl 
80 
10 “ 
81 
4 
a 
. 79 
11 “ 
81-5 
5 
ii 
80 
12 M. 
82*3 
6 
ii 
80 
Kug. 21. 
7 
ii 
81 
1 P. M. 
83 
8 
cc 
82 
2 “ 
83 
9 
ii 
81 
3 “ 
83 
10 
“ 
81 
4 “ 
83 
11 
Cl 
82 
5 “ 
83 
12 M. 
82 
6 “ 
83 
Aug. 22. 
7 w 
83 
1 P. M. 
82 
8 “ 
82 
2 
“ 
82 
9 “ 
81 
3 
Cl 
80 
10 “ 
82 
4 
Cl 
80 
11 “ 
81 
5 
cc 
80 
12 “ 
80 
6 
ii 
80 
202 
