The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎380r] (112/232)

THE MONTHLY RECORD.
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the remainder of the journey to the Congo mouth being made by canoe, steamer,
and railway. In addition to the careful surveys, the results of the expedition are
of much value as regards meteorology, zoology, and botany.
AMERICA.
Currents in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.—The regime of the currents in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, as elucidated by surveys carried out during the years 1894
to 1896, is fully dealt with in a pamphlet published this year at Ottawa by order
of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries. In the first half a description is given of
the surface currents themselves, whether constant currents which run more or less
continuously, in accordance with the general circulation of the water in the gulf
area, or tidal currents produced or chiefly influenced by the tide. Ihe second part
treats of the causes which influence the currents in moving as they are found to
do. The most important of the constant currents—one at the mouth of the St.
Lawrence along the Gaspe coast, the other round Cape North on the west side of
Cabot strait—are due to a general outward drift of the water of lower density,
apparently derived from the outflow of the St. Lawrence river, which occupies the
south-western half of the gulf. The Gaspe current usually occupies a belt of
about 12 miles in width, lying from 2 to 14 miles off shore, in the vicinity of Fame
point; but in certain cases it may be displaced or even reversed under the influence
of abnormal winds. The Cape Breton current, on the west side of Cabot strait,
flows almost constantly outwards to the south-east, while on the eastern side of the
strait off Cape Ray there is usually a movement of the water to the north-west
or inwards towards the gulf. On the west coast of Newfoundland there is an
important current to the -north-east, which is especially marked from the Bay of
Islands to Rich point. In the strait of Belle Isle the current is essentially tidal
in character, and there is no foundation for the belief that a constant current runs
inwards towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At all three angles of the gulf the
coldest water forms a layer between the depths of 30 and 50 fathoms, and this cold
layer seems to extend very generally over the gulf area. Both this and the
deeper water seem, however, to be quiescent. As regards surface density, the
denser water, practically the same as that of the open Atlantic (1-0237 to 1-0242),
occupies the north-eastern portion of the gulf, the dividing line running from
Anticosti to the middle of Cabot strait. South-west of this line the density falls
to 1-0220, and in the Gaspe current to 1-0210. In the deep layers it rises even here
to 1-0261, which explains the fact that the colder water at 50 fathoms floats upon
these. In tracing the general circulation of the gulf, the principle of the balance
of flow must be kept in view. There is no confirmation to be found for the theory
that a constant current enters the gulf by Belle Isle strait and leaves by Cabot
strait. On the contrary, the total volume of water which leaves the gulf by the
latter—vastly greater than the volume of fresh water received from the St.
Lawrence, though this may be sufficient to dilute the water to the low observed
density—is replaced principally by water which enters from the ocean at the same
strait, in continuation of the general westward drift along the south coast of
Newfoundland. The whole of such movements probably occur within a depth ot
50 or 60 fathoms.
Influence of Wind on the Level of Lake Erie.-A recent number of the
U.S. Monthly Weather Review (May, 1900) contains an interesting note by Irot.
A J Henry on the fluctuations of level in Lake Erie brought about by the winds.
In connection with the survey of the great lakes carried out by the Engineer Corps
of the United States army, a continuous record of such fluctuations through a
number of months has been kept, and as an equally full record of wind phenomena,