68 
CBUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
within 200 miles of Sandy Hook, when it shallowed 
to 1700 fathoms. 
The soundings taken in crossing and near the 
G-nlf Stream were of very great interest. On each 
side the depths were found to he respectively 2400 
and 1700 fathoms, grey ooze bottom; while in the 
stream itself the line ran out over 2600 fathoms 
without reaching the bottom. This sounding, how- 
ever, was considered doubtful, their being a strong 
wind and current at the time dragging the line out 
of the perpendicular. The stream was found to be 
about 60 miles broad, which was easily detected by 
the 8° difference of temperature on entering and 
leaving. 
This influential current, little as it may be appre- 
ciated in a general way, is of the greatest importance 
to those countries whose waters are influenced by its 
flow. It takes its rise in the Gulf of Mexico, though it 
might be regarded as a continuation of the equatorial 
current which flows from the western coast of Africa 
across the Atlantic, absorbing the sun’s rays as it 
advances, and storing away the warmth for future 
use. It then passes into the Mexican Gulf, where its 
waters are raised to the high temperature of 86°, 
and then sweeps through the pass of Florida, skirting 
the shores of North America, until it takes that re- 
markable curve off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland 
which throws its waters across the Atlantic, towards 
the coast of Europe. 
