The New York herald., 1878-09-11
COPPINS DISCOVERY.
Naval Officers Discuss the Captains
Important Report.
THE CHARTS IN USE.
Another Shipnaster Confirms
the Dirigo's Log.

through the columns of tho HERALD-by Captain
Colin, OF the bark Dirigo that he on voyage from
the to this port met the current OF tha
Gulf Stream at points not designated the Official
charts, that he in tact, not but twice, ascer-
tained to his satisfaction that the limits
OF said currents, SO important TO naviga-
ton were not officially established, has created
q discussion and excitement In naval and maritime
circles generally that may result in entire re-
modelling Of all charts guiding mariners through the
waters OF the North Atlantic Tho importance OF the
discovery can best be gauged when II becomes known
that the coas survey OF the United States has not ex-
amned anything connected with the Gull Stream, be-
yond the coast limo from Sandy Hook to Key west
since ls45 In other words, anything eastward oi
that coast line and the effect Of the currents upon
navigation in midoccan, has not been looked into IN
thrty-three years.
A representative Of the HERALD called at the Navy
Yard Yesterday and courteously received by Com.
modore Nicholson who, being interrogated IN re-
pard to Captain Cotaus discovery, said lit Is GER
taiply worry remarkable that at such distance there
should have boon current OF two miles an houI
against tho Captain. 1t is well known that when
winds arc heaviest from whatsoever direction tho ex-
tcnt of the Guf Stream current changesa So far as
have experienced however the change in that drec-
ton never amounted TO anything more Than
half a knot au hour. Generally speaking the
navIgators 10 and from the West Indies. but
not necessarily to all those coming from Europe. Az
have said before, prevailing winds will AFFECT tbs
Gulf Stream at all tmes-even TO the extent of sixty
miles, Captain Coffin states but that, OF course,
must be regarded very extraordinary occurrences.
wish. however, that you would take the trouble 10
consult the charts the flagship Powhatap. The
officers on board OF that vesscl have only recently
crossed Gulf Stream, and you Will be able to get
.fnrrn Inn cnft and
more recent data than can give you" Tho Commo-
dorc hero handed the writer pass to proceed on
board the Powhatau.
STREAMS LIMITS NOT FIXED.
having passed ordeal OF the vailant guards the
reporter found himself in the CABIN Of tho flag
ship OF the North Atlantic squadrop, after having
glance the heavy guns that stood pc-meil
the deck preparatory the ships return TO the Gulf
OF Mexico Tho executive officer Of the Pownatan.
upon beng made acquainted with the object of the
writer's mission, brought out an immense port.
folio of charts, and, with these spread refore.
him, proceeded with his exceedingly interesting
lesson on navigation. "You must bear in mind"
no said. "that the limits Of the Gulf Stream have
never yet been nxed and welcome with gratiaca.
tion any intelligent information that may reach in
regard to this important matter. l must acknowledge
runnn. there tho rate Of two miles an hour, bus
ut tho timol add that the observations Of
north nor very far east We know that toe ism.
perature coming from the eastward changea
ns saa' ~. eus enr,y drsnl whon
there tare heavy ana continued gales tue
course Of the gulf stream Is materially changed:
southeast, tho stream IS forced Immediately on and
tho shoals Of the capes OF North Carolina; and
| with northwest and western gales. the stream ID
driven from shore, and since 1854 tho naval
service has made up It's MUD that no limit within
thirty miles can be fixed TO u Under such circum.
| stances the warm wator OF the guilt 10 dispaccd 80
that at times there will be current In the warm
The precise part where the Guii Stream begins to
form not known. II has boon asccrtained that the
current gets to the west northwest aud northwest,
| over the Campechs Bank lof Yucssanl AND that
short distance west OF the Tortugas In Florida, the
current sets to the south southeast, but whore the
ascertained Do not therefore imagine that
at all dsparaso Captain Coniu's efforts
regard to certain odgeIof that Gut Stream. Only
| don't look upon the GUT Stream as river, which
has It's banks for u has and you cannot possibly
lay down any regular limits to IT, on Hat,eras, the
current OF tho Gulf Stream runs from one and one
After passing HATTIE rns, the current takes
sudden bend to she eastward, until when OF the
north east and in the latitude Of Philsdclpha the
| current OF tho southern portion OF the stream
cau ss,s nIsa reports opS nmssis when hs met With
that extraordinary phenomenon az longitude ~ west
and suppose be was IN 'a'sSoS 90 on sn's g Sns .ns
general chart oil the North Atlantic, published py tno
Hydrosraphic Office OF the United States Navy. the
current In latitude IS aud IN longitude so Is laid down
| as from to and quarter knots an hour.
Captain Cofnn may have met the current q ittle Gus
| OF the usual position, but am asionisbed at his
stacmcu. that at the ratio OF two miles an hour
| at that Longitude" T"
| 'will not the Hydrographic Onlce take notice Of
Captain Colns discovery and institute an oncia in'
qy .v'U m.vn ,ue said ,h. Powha.as cS bus sha,
| depends entirely what sort Of man Captain
rtpc in hig
curate ordinary calculations, II Is quite possible
that the Navy Department may take action ~
regard TO the matter But oitcn has the dcpers-
ment taken unnecessary trouble by despa,chng YES.
sells spots where captains had reported rocks ana
where no rocks found that II but natural they
will be cautious in iustituting investigation which,
OF course, must be necessarily tedious and expen-
svo"
| "Capain Conn says further that on hts chart the
n,ne nearly along the thrty parallel o. north
| latitude, from 40 deg. wost Longitude TO about 10
dog. vest Now BY looking upon the chart here & os.
thirty miles South Of this thus reducing she
extreme limit as Captaio Cofia claims s,.,s Sy ~
| Of only thirty miles instead Of sixty, between
the discovery alleged, and the charts as we md
| Them must be considered Of tnportancc. Tho ordi-
nary southern limit Of tue Gulf stream. know %
to be- Is in latitude 3s 30 longitude So The sxtraots
binary limit depends upon other causos. as have al.
ready explained to you. In fact tho chief point
to bear In mind In connection with this
10 tho Gull stream" Thanking the officer for his
explanations the reporter lott thc snip, satisfied that
ncxt time the powhaian the outer edges OF tho
Gulf stream some of the officers will not fall to make
observations that must be OF value TO the Hydrv-
graphic onice OF the Navy Department
A SHIP CAPTAINS OBSERVATIONS :.
Captain Van elect, commanding tho sonoone0
Florence shay, arrived at this port on the Sd nst
IRON Progreso, IN Yucatan. His opinion on Captai6
Coflu's discovery was considered important by
south street merchants yesterday, owing to tho
nc, that he had been for long engaged In the
Mediterranean trade and had frequently navigatsd
the course described by Captain Collin. Tho rc-
porter found him at the o1co OF Evans,
| bail a. Co., in South street, when hs
:--"i am not Just nov engaged 10 the
trade; have only rcccnty arrived from
Yucaian MY experience Is that the edge OF the Gulf
stream rs not xcd ALL and have at various limos
lou nd tho limit different from the limo laid down
tho chartE When making my way westward from
tue straits OF Gibraltar have found In the longitude
of bermuda current fully nIty miles iurthcr south
than iud dcated the North Atlantic chart Onoc ~
particular l distinctly remember having made that