New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-24
Interesting TO sea-FarIna nIen.

r.
SIR: ! have noticed in your Introductory re-
marks 10 the Abstract Log II is stated that our
knowledge Of the navigation Of the Gull Of Mexico IL
defective and that tracks are wanted Tor shee'
No J." navigated for ten years the ship ~ May
packet sailing between New York aud New Orleans,
with only one deviation from the route. viz TO Havana
and Rsgged Island herewith furnish you with such
observations ne I made on currents sc dnrng thAl
period.
Tho curren,s on the coast OF Louisiana as general
rule and which 10 corroboraied by the Bsize pilots
are Influenced by the winds The swelling oi The sea
by the OutpOBriDgs OF the Mississippi tends materially
10 increase this influence. With N N D and tastefy
winds the stream strong the southesrd sweep
ing round South Pass Point II cOmmnsles with that
running to the westward. When the winds blow IRON
the opposite points the current iows To the nOTth"sfd
and eastward until checked by the shores OF Florida
il sets rapidly to the southwark and eastward extend
ing 10 the TOrtugss and 10 the COorsdos In ight
wiods however, from any quarter, current 70 me
westward OF South Point may be setting t. the west
ward while 70 the northward Of that point northeast
current will be felt
The ,outhwesery current which sets BY theTortuGes
and often quite to tine Coorados IT, think me
effect of two causes. In navigating 10 tue westward
along the Florida reef with eastery winds and N day
time always kept 10 colored water, and "a near
10 the reef as prudence would permit By so doing
was invariably favored by current OF ons and haii
miles an hour This current meeting TIE set a.
already mgptoned the West Florida side tends 10
to the so6thwestwsdy and although IT WI be iei
often with the southeast current 10 tho and
| wcst~ard of the Tortngss, with the wind from h'
nor beast board than degree 20 the west~art
| Of those keys and ON the same parallel have 'cl
with oascry winds the iuiueDce of the easery strehi
also very often shortly after having passed 10 th'
| sOuthward of them.
During the summer months. At time when cams
ght airs and variable winds try the patience OF th'
navigator the currents irregular will be- seen By
two abstracts which forward to the Hydrogrsphics
Ohics.
In performing passages to New Orleans, from Octo
Der until March, always made II point regardless
eur n koe we'll ID rOrthWard "A
eel neeleciing this precauon, has. with the sronl
North winds been driven SOnth OF Abe parallel oil IN
Passes thence TO the westward by which The passsg'
has been prolonged many dsys
la returning from New Orleans even with south o
westerly winds, slwsys endesvored to secure east
ing for "A ship draws up with the southery parts
Florida the winds In general veer 10 the eastern Pon
OF the compass.
With the winds strong the northward, the currents
10 the eastward Of Abaco rapidly TO the seuhwsrC
quite down 70 Fle,hura and New Providence. have
on such occasions experienced sixty miles southwark
current In twenty four hours. Also, with eas,erlJ
wuds the current with great force toward Ahscs
and along the northern keys often at the rate OF three
miles hour-the causes OF numerous disasters which
occur about Elbow Reef Since the yesr ls4l
not less than million OF American property hs'
been destroyed these reefs The last vessel wreck
ed there to my knowledge. the ship Empire with
United States troops destined to Mexico.
IL might possibly be the duty of our Government tc
represent 20 the British Government the necessity o
having heht house on Msn.ofW War hey. The subject
has frequently been discussed by the authorize,
Of Nassau but rs the inhabitants of the various keys
depend principally upon wrecking for s,upport and q:
IL Ia principally on Elbow Rect that their richest hsr
vests are resped it is 70 be doubted whether they
would give to the undertaking cordial support Ger
tain 1t is that light exhibited on Elbow hey would
prevent the loss Of many American vessel and per
hsps be the means of saving many valuable lives
Very respectfully, X w. FOSTER
Lieut. NJ. r MAURY L. :. Navy.