462 
CURRENTS AND WHALING. 
Aug. 22. TEMP. OF WATER. Aug. 23. TEMP. OF WATER. 
7 P. M. 
. 
79o 
1 
P. M. 
• 
79° 
8 “ 
80 
2 
P. M. 
81 
9 “ 
81 
3 
44 
81 
10 “ 
80 
4 
u 
80 
11 “ 
79 
5 
“ 
80 
12 “ 
79 
6 
“ 
80 
1 A. M. 
79 
7 
41 
80 
2 “ 
79 
8 
44 
80 
3 “ 
79 
9 
44 
79 
4 “ 
79 
10 
44 
79 
5 “ 
79 
11 
44 
78 
6 “ 
79 
12 
44 
78 
7 “ 
79 
1 
A. M. 
78 
8 “ 
79 
2 
44 
80 
9 “ 
79 
3 
44 
79 
10 “ 
79 
4 
44 
79 
11 “ 
79 
5 
44 
78 
12 M. 
79 
6 
44 
77 
7 
44 
77 
It will thus be seen that the Gulf Stream is somewhat warmer to¬ 
wards its inner edge than it is on the outer. 
The calculations of the run of the ship gave fifty-three miles for 
the breadth of the Stream at the place where we crossed it, namely, 
on the parallel of 34° 30', and for its velocity about two miles per 
hour. All navigators, however, are aware of the fact, that both the 
breadth and velocity of the Gulf Stream vary much, and that it occa¬ 
sionally approaches much nearer to the coast than it does at other 
times. 
The approach of the Gulf Stream to our shores, has been ascribed 
to the influence of northeasterly winds. These are known to affect 
the tides in our bays and harbours, but I am unwilling to admit that 
these are an adequate cause for the change in position and velocity 
of so great a body of water. The action is far too trivial to account 
for such an effect. It is certain, on the other hand, that the Gulf and 
Labrador Streams both owe their existence to the unequal distribution 
of temperature on the earth’s surface; there must be a difference in 
the intensity of the causes that act to produce these effects at different 
seasons of the year, and it may be inferred that the changes of the 
seasons act unequally upon the two streams. The force of the portion 
of the Labrador Current, which follows the coast of the United States, 
will, when superior, carry the Gulf Stream outwards, and when that 
force diminishes, the Gulf Stream will approach more nearly to the 
coast, and most nearly when its own relative force is the greatest. 
Whatever be the ultimate causes of the streams, it would appear that 
