Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-25
ABOUT THE GULF STREAM.
Facts Stated by Lieut.. Pillsbury-Varia-
tiOns of the Great Ocean Current, Etc.

Lieut.. J. E. Pillsbury of the navy has, at the
request of Prot L. C. Mendenhall, superinten-
dent of the coast survey, written him letter
setting forth his views on the subject of the
gulf stream and its variation. He says:
Il think the gulf stream does change its posi-
ton to a slight amount, but not in the arbitrary
manner or to the great extent stated by some
of the newspaper writers of late. = y
While it is-probably fact that as a rule, a
current from the equator is warm and one
from the pole is colder than the surrounding
waters, it is not always the fact that the warm
est flowing water is from the south, nor that
the coolest is from the north. The
mere presence of warm water does not neces-
sariy show that current exists nor does a
change in temperature show that there is a
change in current The gulf stream
probably has q vibratory motion, as evidenced
by our own anchorages at No. station off Cape
Hatteras and as previously noticed off Rebecca
shoal, Fla. Anchored there, on the northern
edge OF the stream riding to the wind with
gentle current, the latter would suddenly be-
| come strong and swing the vessel until she
was stern to the wind. to remain but a short
time, and then the current becoming weaker
| the wind would gain the ascendency. This was
repeated "A number OF times.
Il believe that
THE DAILY VOLUME OF THE STREAM
varies but little except from that due to decli-
nation of the moon. Along the northern coast
however, it is not always on the surface, but is
from an unknown cause, overrun by other
currents. l think that its track through the
| ocean is absolutely fixed by law and that its
vibration is periodic, although the limit of the
periodic change may vary to trifling amount
The generally accepted belief that Il wind blow
ing across the current changes the position of
| its axis is am convinced. erroneous Every
temporary wind however, does transport water
| Chiefly by means of waves) and with it goes its
| heat or cold.
SEA WEED IN THE STREAM.
'The fact OF finding gulf weed within few
miles of Nantucket light ship does not so much
prove that the current Is nearer our shores as
1t does that winds have prevailed in .the direc-
! ton from which 1t comes Its home is in the
| Sargasso sea, from which it is drawn by the
| winds and sea. small amount finds its way
| into the Caribbean through the Antigua pas
| Indian Islands. The break of the waves has
| more effect on its movements than current,
| unless the latter is very strong and in thejgulf
stream itself it is seen stretching in long lines
| III the direction of the wind and sea and not in
the direction of the current. except only in the
| case of rip at the meeting of currents.
COLOR CHANGES IN THE WATER.
Anchored on the edge of the Florida reefs.
with a strong wind blowing directly from the
| gulf stream, which was only short distance
away, its clear blue water was driven by the
| sea and overcame the cloudy reef water, but
| no current accompanied it. In Key West har.
Dor the water is usually cloudy. A southerly
| wind will cause sea that will carry the clear
water inshorc, even in spite of an ebb tide.
| The wind shifting to the opposite quarter will
| at once alter 1t to milky whlteness."