R E M A R K S

Upon the Navigation from

NEWFOUNDLAND to NEW-YORK,

In order to avoid the

GULPH STREAM

On one hand, and on the other the SHOALS that lie to the Southward of

Nantucket and of St. George’s Bank.

AFTER you have passed the Banks of Newfoundland in about the 44th degree of latitude, you will meet with nothing, till you draw near the Isle of Sables, which we commonly pass in latitude 43. Southward of this isle, the current is found to extend itself as far North as 41° 20' or 30', then it turns towards the E.S.E. or S.E. 1/4 E.

Having passed the Isle of Sables, shape your course for the St. George’s Banks, so as to pass them in about latitude 40° because the current southward of those banks reaches as far North as 39°. The shoals of those banks lie in 41° 35'.

After having passed St. George's Banks, you must, to clear Nantucket, form your course so as to pass between the latitudes 38° 30 and 40° 45'.

The most southern part of the shoals of Nantucket lie in about latitude 38° 30'. The northern part of the current directly to the south of Nantucket is felt in about latitude 40° 45'.

By observing these directions and keeping between the stream and the shoals, the passage from the Banks of Newfoundland to New-York, Delaware, or Virginia may be considerably shortened; for so you will have the advantage of the eddy current which moves contrary to the Gulph [Gulf] Stream. Whereas if to avoid the shoals you keep too far to the southward, and get into that stream, you will be retarded by it at the rate of 60 or 70 miles per day.

The Nantucket whale-men being extremely well acquainted with the Gulph [Gulf] Stream, its course, strength and extent, by their constant practice of whaling on the edges of it, from their island quite down to the Bahamas, this draft of that stream was obtained from one of them, Capt. Folger, and caused to be engraved on the old chart in London, for the benefit of navigators by

B. FRANKLIN

Note, The Nantucket captains who are acquainted with this stream, make their voyages from England to Boston in as short a time generally as others take in going from Boston to England, viz. from 20 to 30 days.

A stranger may know when he is in the Gulph [Gulf] Stream, by the warmth of the water, which is much greater than that of the water on each side of it. If then he is bound to the westward, he should cross the stream to get out of it as soon as possible.

B.F.