462 



CURRENTS AND WHALING 



Aug-. 22. 

 7 p. M. 



9 



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10 



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12 



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TKMP. OP WATER. 



79" 



80 



81 



80 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



79 



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Aug, 

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 7 

 8 

 9 



10 

 11 

 12 

 1 . 

 2 

 3 

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 7 



23. 



P. M. 



P. M. 



TKMP. OF WATER. 



79° 



81 



81 



80 



80 

 80 

 80 

 80 

 79 

 79 

 78 

 78 

 78 

 80 

 79 

 79 

 78 

 77 

 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 84° 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 



