CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



461 



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 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 WATF.I1 



7 A. M. 



71° 



1 A. M 80° 



8 " . . 



79 



2 " 







80 



9 " . . 



81 



3 " 







80 



10 " . . 



81 



4 " 







79 



11 " . . 



81-5 



5 " 







80 



12 M. 



82-3 



6 " 







80 



Aug. 21. 





7 " 







81 



1p.m. 



83 



8 " 







82 



2 " . 



83 



9 " 







81 



3 " . . 



83 



10 " 







81 



4 " . . 



83 



11 " 







82 



5 " . 



83 



12 m. 







82 



fi " . 



83 



Aug. 22. 









7 " . 



83 



1 P. M. 







82 



8 " . 



82 



2 " 







82 



9 " . . 



81 



3 " 







80 



10 " . . 



82 



4 " 







80 



11 " . . 



81 



5 " 







80 



12 " . 



80 



6 " 







80 



2 02 



