CURRENT OBSERVATIONS. 127 



about the Fiji Group, and westward to the Coral Sea, when the 

 wind between this and the equator is drawn to the north-eastward, 

 the equatorial counter current slackens, or is altogether absent, 

 and that it is questionable whether it has much value during 

 April. When this current first separates from the parent stream 

 it flows to the northward and north-eastward for probably a 

 hundred or two hundred miles before it turns to the eastward. 

 There appears to be some evidence to shew that a considerable 

 body of the counter current retains its northward course as an 

 under current, coming to the surface again to the north of ten 

 degrees north latitude, and mingling with the waters of the north- 

 east Trade Drift, but still maintaining its course to the northward. 



Before my acquaintance with the Canadian-Australian route 

 commenced, Captain Charles Bird— a very keen observer whose 

 observations are amongst those that may be considered to have 

 most weight in judging the value of these records — gave me some 

 useful information as to the winds and currents he had experienced 

 on his voyages across the Pacific, and among other things he told 

 me, which greatly interested me, was the fact of a set to the 

 northward dead against the north-east trade wind having been 

 several times experienced by him between the parallels of ten 

 and fifteen degrees north latitude, on the run between Fiji and 

 Honolulu. Personal experience as well as the testimony of the 

 Warrimoo's and Mioweras log books have fully borne out Capt. 

 Bird's statement, and by referring to the charts we shall find in 

 January a set to the north-north-east of thirteen miles, and a set 

 to the east-north-east of twenty-five miles, between the parallels 

 of eight and eleven degrees north ; and again a set to the north 

 of fourteen miles, and a set to the north-north-west of six miles, 

 and a set to the north-north-east of fifteen miles, between the 

 parallels of twelve degrees and eighteen degrees north, all in the 

 heart of the north-east trade winds, and travelling against it. The 

 question in my mind arises, is this the equatorial counter-current, 

 credited with having continued its northward course as an under 

 current, come to the surface ? 



