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AUGUST 15, I90I THE MARINE RECORD THEORY OF ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE GULF STREAM. CAPT. B. F. SHERBURNE, EUREKA, CAL. For more than a century scientists and philosophers have been vainly trying to discover the origin and cause of the mysterious current in the Atlantic ocean called the Gulf Stream; why so called is not apparent, as nothing in the Gulf of Mexico is in its composition, There have been many theories which have been abandoned, some per- fectly absurd, such as its being caused by the earth-in its revolution on its axis; for if it had the power to draw this stream at the rate of five miles an hour from the coast of Florida it would draw all the water from the east ‘coasts of North and South America at the same velocity. The prevailing theory is that the northeast trade winds drive a. current into the Carribean Sea, and, aided by the -feeble equatorial stream, heaps up the water in the Gulf of Mexi- co, thence rushing around the south of Florida from the source of the Gulf Stream. But there is no such a heaping of the waters in that gulf. The waters there are sluggish, and there is no perceptible current leading towards’ the Gulf Stream, or anywhere else. This theory has been ac- cepted for want of a better, but those who favor it are not entirely satisfied with it. The Gulf Stream is an independ- ent body of water, having no connection with the’ water around or behind the point where it emerges. It is warm- er and of a deeper blue than the surrounding seas and gushes forth from the starting point off Cape Sable at the rate of from five to six knots an hour, with a tempera- ture of about go degrees, lessening gradually as it proceeds on its journey of thousands of miles across the Atlantic océan, warming the western shores of Europe. Haying seen the fallacy of the theories concerning the Gulf Stream, we will turn out attention to the great Pa- cific current, identical in all respects with its sister current of the Atlantic, and concerning which there are no theories to contend with. It starts spontaneously from a spot a few miles from the south end of the island of Formosa, in the Banshee channel, following the coast of Formosa northeasterly, past and through the Loo Choo islands, skirting the coast of Japan; thence turns eastward on its long journey across the wide Pacific, warming the coast of America from Puget Sound to Mexico. Its dark blue waters are in striking con- trast to the surrounding seas, giving it the name of Murra Suar, or black water. It is an independent stream where no combination of winds or currents can possibly cause the mighty rush of warm blue water with a velocity of from five to six knots an hour from the start. In its characteristics of heat, color and direction it re- sembles the Gulf Stream in every particular, and the origin of the two streams must be the same, whatever they may be, which I shall endcavor to show later on. There is another ocean current similar in all respects to the. other two, with the exception that it runs in an exactly opposite direction. Starting from the vicinity of the south end of the island of Madagascar, it runs southwesterly around the Cape of Good Hope, where it disappears off Cape Lagullas. As a current, probably a part of it is diverted into a steady set of -the easterly current, caused by the prevail- ing westerly winds in that region. No scientists, so far as I am aware, have attempted to account for this current. Having now proved beyond refutation that all theories advanced as to the cause of ocean currents are groundless, it remains to be proven what the true cause is. It must be admitted that the currents have a similar or- igin, as they are identical in every respect as regards color, heat and velocity, springing forth in the same man- ner spontaneously from the earth in some mysterious way. There is no place on the surface of the earth where the water can be heated to furnish the heat contained in these streams that gush forth from the depths of the sea; consequently the forces must be subterranean, and can only be accounted for by large bodies of clear, blue water from the ocean forcing its way into the depths of ‘he earth under its crust, where it burrows a channel of its own to the sur- face again, having received its warmth on the way by con- tact with the internal heat of the lower regions of the earth, forced on by continual pressure from behind. That there are orifices in the earth’s crust cannot be denied, also what becomes of the vast column of water that cannot be com- puted which is constantly running at the rate of from four to six knots an hour from the Atlantic ocean, through the Straits of Gibralter into the Mediterranean Sea. The numerous rivers, too, are continually flowing in, and yet the sea remains at the same level. Evaporation cannot ac- count for it, for what is evaporated is formed into clouds and is precipitated again into the sea by the ogee of storms and frequent rains. The water must enter the earth from the ocean through these aperatures on an incline, as it gushes forth in these three mighty currents and cannot be discovered by sound- ings; consequently these three mighty’ currents are noth- ing more or less than immense geysers oO oo THE SPLICING OF WIRE ROPE. Our caption is the title of a well printed catalogue of fifty or more pages now ready for distribution by John A. Roebling’s Sons Co., Trenton, N. J. The catalogue is printed on heavy coated paper and bound in green cover with gold lettering. The subject of splicing ropes is very fully covered by complete descriptive matter, and there are probably two dozen full page illustrations, showing the process in much detail by which wire ropes are spliced. The back part of the catalogue is devoted to illustrating and describing the different kinds of wire rope manufactured by this company. These include hoisting rope, haulage rope, galvanized wire rope, steel hawsers, etc. A number of rig- gers’ tools are also shown, and there are several pages of illustrations of sockets, turnbuckles, and other specialties used in connection with wire rope. The catalogue is one of particular interest to those who have to do with the rig- ging of vessels and the practical handling of wire rope. oor iro STATEMENT OF THE VISIBLE SUPPLY OF GRAIN. As compiled by George F. Stone, Secretary Chicago Board of Trade, August roth, r1gor. CITIES WHERE WHEAT.| CORN. Oats. RYE. tee STORED. Bushels. |. Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. | Bushels. Builalo . os Sos sean 708,000 279,000 398,000 38,000 64,c00 CHicd Osis vcccos sis 4,071,000] 7,374,000 736,000 140,000 2,000 Detroit. tities iak 306,000 51,000 44,000 49,000 3,C00 Daluthigiscs gscanrcn ve 1,355,900] I 482,000 568,000 95 000 46,000 Fort William, Ont.. 426,000 sie ev baad eee td cesta ae etme ace eal cA rope anaee Milwaukee.......... 228,000] 667,000 68, 000 13,000 17,000 Port Arthur, Ont.... BS OOO yivisissy oe timeline ete |iayets Saran ad gis CRATE TOLED OS 5 oid oie leie vets: «ies 516,000; 451,000) 317,000 157,006 3,000 MSOTONEO: cnccies eee s 4 29,000} 00.5 ian BiOOO | ive et ces 50,000 On Canals. ........5. 515,000 155,0°0 TQ OOO ice ce cere [ie a aisteneare Oni Wakes):.c3 05 cicen 965,0c0 656,000 110,000) ABsOOO))) Vis ise a bem OMeMIss RIVETS cele rours calle Metis “aeons lin eeteeasann ured een ci meee Grand Total..... 28 219,000] 13,296,000] 4 452,000 732,000 320,000 Corresponding Date, ERQOO ia at oi shsiaye hee scons-ale 48 218,000], 11,351,000] 5,869,000 625,000 350,000 Increase for week..|.... “ihe 692,000 98,000 76.000 7,000 Decrease ‘ se BPS OOOO earn oes lnehnnlenre el ies kia cha: tage Bee ees While the stock of grain at lake ports only is here given, the total shows the figures for the entire country except the Pacific Slope. ee NOTICE TO MARINERS. _ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA—NORTHERN LAKES AND RIVERS— NEW YORK, TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE Licut-HousE Boarp. Wasuincton, D. C., August 8, Igor. CapE VINCENT BREAKWATER BEACON LicHts—Notice is hereby given that, on or about August 31, 1901, a fixed red lens-lantern, 25% feet above the mean level of Lake On- tario, and illuminating the entire horizon, will be estab- lished on each of the two structures now being erected on the ends of the breakwater off Cape Vincent, southerly side of the head of the St. Lawrence River. Each of the structures stands about 20 feet from its end of the breakwater, and is a small, square, white, wooden house, with pyramidal ee above which rises two up- rights, By order of the het Board: N. H. FarQguHar, Rear-Admiral U.S. Navy, Chairman. Licut-Housre EstaBLisH MENT. OFFIce oF THE LigHt-HouseE INspector, ELEVENTH DIsTRICcT. Detroit, Micu., August 9, 1901. Sr, Crair River, Micu.—Notice is hereby given that the color of the spar buoy recently established to mark the position of the sunken crib on the shoal at the head of Russell Island, St. Clair River, Mich., has been changed from red and white horizontal stripes to red and black horizontal stripes. By order of the Light-House Board, J. €.. Witson, Commander, U. S. N., Inspector 11th District. Passing Without Answering Signals——Under special rule 5, governing the navigation of St. Mary’s river, which requires an overtaking steamer desiring to pass, at any place where that is permitted, to signal, and the forward vessel to answer stich signal, either assenting or dis- senting, such agreement. by signals is essential to authorize the overtaking vessel to attempt passing. and she is not justified in taking the failure of the forward vessel to answer her signal as an assent to the passing, and in act ing upon it as such. The North Star, 108 Fed. Rep. CU. S.) 436. Treaties—Construction of Treaty with Russia—Sur- — render of Deserters from Ships.—Article 9 of the treaty of 1832 between the empire of Russia and the United States, which authorizes consular officers of either country to apply to the competent tribunals of the other for the arrest, de- — tention, and surrender of deserters from “ships of war and merchant vessels of their country,’ and provides that such — deserters shall be surrendered “on proof, by the exhibition of registers of vessels, the rolls of the crew, or by other official documents, that such individuals formed part of the crews,” cannot be extended beyond its terms, so as to apply to deserters generally; and it does not authorize the arrest and detention by the authorities of the United States, on application of a Russian consul, of a member of the Russian navy who, with others had been sent to this country, in charge of an officer, to form part of the crew of a cruiser being built here for the Russian government, but which had not been completed or accepted, or its crew organized, at the time such person deserted. Motherwell et al. vs. United States ex rel. Alexandroff, 107 Fed. Rep. (U. S.) 437. Shipping—Injury to Cargo in Port—Negligence.—A fter a barge had been loaded with a cargo of wheat in January, and while lying in the Chicago river, awaiting the opening of lake navigation in the spring, a drain pipe which passed through the hold above the wheat, and the lower part of which was below the surface of the river, so that it re- mained full of water, froze and burst, and water from the river ran in upon the cargo. The shipkeeper in charge for the owners knew that water was entering the vessel, but, on the supposition that it came in from a different place, made no examination for a month, although he could easily have — done so; and during all that time the water continued to run in upon the wheat, doing it serious damage. Held, that the result should reasonably have been anticipated, and that, moreover, the keeper was guilty of gross negligence, which rendered the owner of the vessel liable for the injury to the cargo, irrespective of the obligation assumed under the bill of lading to deliver the cargo safely at the port of destina- tion, dangers of navigation, fire, and collision alone ex- cepted. Northwestern Transp. Co, vs. Leiter, 107 Fed. Rep. (U. S.) 953. Partial Loss—Deductible Average——A marine policy on a steamship contained two separate valuations, one in- cluding the “hull, tackle, apparel, furniture, stores, outfit, fittings, electric light plant, and dynamo,” and the other the “engines, propeller wheel or wheels, boilers, and ma- chinery.” It contained clauses providing that, “in the event of particular average, the assurers only to be liable for the excess of one-half per cent upon the entire value,’ ‘ and “average payable on each valuation as if separately in- sured, or on the whole.” Held, that the effect of the latter clause was to entitle the assured to treat the policy as a single policy on the whole, or as two separate policies, for the purpose of computing the deductible average in case of a partial loss, and that in case of a loss by injury to the hull in collision, which did not affect any of the items in- cluded in the second class, the half per cent deductible un- der the franchise clause should be computed only on the amount of the first valuation; the words “entire value,” as used in the first clause, having reference in such case to the class of which the hull formed one item, as the subject of separate insurance. American S. S. Co., Lim- ited, vs. Indemnity Mut. Marine Ins. Co.. Limited, 108 Fed. Rep. (U. S.) 42m. Contract by Carrier to Insure.—It was stipulated that the consignors received the steamship company’s written assurance that the shipment of wool under the insured rate would carry marine insurance, and that it was to “cover the shipment” with marine insurance; and it gurther appeared that the company, in accordance with its custom, insured in its own name the goods of all shippers on the vessel entitled to be covered by insurance in a lump sum, as well as covering by the same policies its own liability as carrier ; the loss being made payable to its agents or their order. Also that, there having been a loss of a portion of the cargo, it collected by its agents the insurance payable to other shippers, and distributed it, omitting payment to the consignors of the wool only because the insurers denied liability because of the policy taken by the consignees. Held, that it was a reasonable inference from such facts that the contract with the consignors contemplated that the company should insure in its own name, and, in case of loss, collect and pay over the insurance; and that, having failed to do so, the consignors could maintain an action against it for the amount. Gross et al. vs. New York & To. 5, Co; 107 hed: Rep: Gu. S) s10-