The New York herald., 1878-09-13
Onions of Officers Attached to the
photographic Bureau.
DISCUSSIONS IN MARITIME CIRCLES
Captain Cofin's Discovery Confirmed
by Other Navigators
AN ERRATIC CURRENT.
[sY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

WASHINGTON, Sept IL, 1878.
The reported discovery OF a serious alteration In
ne Gull Stream has, as yet been given no ofhciai
souside ration at either the photographic Bureau oil
the Navy Department the Coast Survey Ofhce OF
he Treasury. Captain Samuel B. Fran1ln Is now
hief Of tho photographic Office. He says he has read
Eth interest the reports OF Captain Conn., of the brig
Drigo, but not surprised that the Gulf Stream has
,ssn found out OF It's usual COURSE In acI said,
his groat currentls always huctuating and is
,eldom contained within the same limits. Ho recog-
lized in the discovery of Captain Coffin what he had
uways known-namely, that the ulf Stream shifts ts
position according the direction and force OF the
Vinds. A northwest wind drives it of shore ana
southeast wind tends 70 force It in shore.
An UNUSUAL VARIATION
The variation OF sixty miles which Captain Coffin
Observed In tho eastern edge oi the current was
reat deal but Captain Franklin was unable to say
THAT the average OF ordinary fluctuations had boen
.hs didn't him to be anything parto-
Iiariy now or strange, except that the Gulf Stream
u this instance was out of its regular track moro
han usually was, but that 1t was liable not TO be
pund In the same place was something which navi-
,a,ors knew from time i'm memorial. This gen.
raI fact, well understood among seagong people.
Inc variation was less, Dut was never, that
% recollectsd, very much. II likely that the re-
snt northeast gales had swerved the current out OF
course sufficiently to mako the considerable dis
repaney IN the charts which Captain Conin had
pund.
VIEWS oy coMXANDER BRED.
Commander A. v. Reed Assistant photographer, OF
he Autographs Office, says that the report OF Cap
ain Coffin did attrast his attention sufficiently TO
induce HIM 10 read the details oil his discovery.
Zone Of the charts furnished by tho British Aomi-
alty ONCE, by tho Coast Survey or by tho Hydro
raphc Office pretend to give the exact width OF the
illf Stream. The most that II attempts to do Is to
rvo average width and fuctuation OF sixty miles
an eastery direction the lines of the current vary
ng In width according TO tho season and the con-
Iition Of winds II the charts laid down an exact
rdth OF the Stroam tho northern latitude break
ng away from tho recognized boundaries would de-
erve attention.
STATEMENT OF CoMMoDoRE LAW.
Commodore Richard L. Law. chief OF the Bureau
Yards and Docks in the Navy Departments, an OIL
er who has great deal OF service at sea- nap
ened to be listener when part Of tho foregoing
iaiement was made. He thought the discovery might
ossiby DO exaggerated, not Intentionally, OF course,
nut through a misunderstanding on the part OF Cap
Coffin. The east and west banks or edges OF tho
iulf Stream had this difference and popularity: The
rest bank sharp and well defined comparatively,
he line between the hot water OF the Stroam
ud tho cCld body OF inshore water being
cadily discornable that the navigator knew
amost Immediately when he got in;o or out
4 the Gulf Stream. But the eastern edge was
Tot 30 easily determined The water OF mid
cean warmer than the inshore water, and hence
he transition the eastern edge OF the Gulf Siroam
vas gradual. A navigator coming In fSom
Southern Europa would be puzzled at times TO say
exactly whero and when he entered the Cult Stream
Comm odore Law lett to be inferred, therefore, that
Captain Coffin had mistakenly believed himself In the
Gull Stream sooner than he really was, and that the
warm current he found tho tepid superficial mid
scean water drifting with she wind.
hARIrIME CIRCLES IN THIS CITY STILL ExER-
CIsEp own THE DIsCOvERY-IETERvIEws
WITH sEvERAL SEA cAPrAINs-A STATEMENT
THAT THE REGULAR CHARTS ARE ALL WRONG.
AT tho Maritime Exchange as woil as IN the various
shipping ofnccs along South ana Beaver streets yes
terday Captain Collins discovery OF a much more
southern edgo OF the G ulf Stream than given
on the charts was the great topic OF conversa-
lion. Tho interest taken in the mattcr generally by
naval officers we'll ordinary seafaring men, was
greatly heightened by the Acknowledgements
made by several captains thlt they were
personally acquainted with Captain Coln,
that they placed the utmost reliance In his state
ments, and that no known to them an cner-
actually engaged In the scafaring business, but
also those who, having acquired competency. had
relirsd from the sea and conducted shipping
OF their own, Interested in tho discov-
sry, and wondered why in oil these many years past
had called public attention to the matter
Every one with whom tho HERALD reporter conversed
throughous tho day acknowledged tho correctness Of
Captain Cofin's ststcmerts.
GOVERNED BY WINDS.
Captain Loud, who has during many years made
royages the West India Islands and to South Amer
ca mentioned that the Gulf Stream 10 entirely gov
yned by winds. The western winds especially he
rid, drive 1t of n considerable distance. north
ses, gale will drive it nifty sixty miles 'Bu
bear In mind" no added at does not drive Of IN
parallel lines, but In irregular curls What you sec
pot down on the charts is virtually nothing else than
the average OF the Gull Stream as ii Is found
during tho greater part OF tho year. You can rely
npon inc cnars ony " SUI. % n csaras IN your
pocket, Tor IL Is then that you may look for strong
currents When the wind blows from the shore ana M
curs have above alluded to go OF long way, thus
forming tho ar ms OF the Stream, and they keep on
stretching themselves oat to tremendous distance
Captain Conins discovery must have boon mado
shortly after gale had been prevailing r his w
cin,ty; Tor In moderate weather, according to my
long experience, tho Gull Stream runs pretty uni-
tormly IL rs important to know the exact course oil
tho stream--its strength, its current IT'S washings
growers The entire coLon crop VI The Unitod states
requires the waters OF the Cult Stream. In summer
time is waters 20 close INTO the shore, creating,
owing to the high state OF their temperature vapor
which Is OF vast benefit 10 our cotton feds These
saters are driven into our coast by southeast and
nsrthoast gacs, and 10 know exactly how far these
waters possibly DO driven must DO OF great
importance to many planters"
HURRicAyKs BKLisvEp TO DE THE CAUSE.
"whal do you consider to b. the direct cause OF
this overflow Of the Gulf Stream. II may so call nf'
asked the reporter
ssrhs burricanes,i In the Caribbean Sea and OF the
coast OF Florida really upset all calculations In regard
to the limit OF the Cult stream remember onco
that my vessel won't from hatanzas right over the
reefs to FLORIDA without single sail being set tho
wind took our vessel up, aud with tho aid OF tue
strong current wcro showed right along, aud tho
moment we wore the rcef We were In smooth
water remember this circumstance distinctly, ior
hye vessels were with US Ia tho saino predlcainen
northeast wind will cause tho waters or the Gull
Stream TO expand amazingly, blow all the suDsruous
waters harDors and rivers and hence we near oc-
casiopaly OF such inapdaons as the one Ia lndianoi
two years ago, who're SO many people were orowned,
When the water rocodos II goes along the north
tao ADNs shn