Summary: It is shown that the deep western boundary current (DWBC) in the North Atlantic may contribute to premature separation of the Gulf Stream. A simple analytical study is made based on the linear barotropic vorticity equation in which a possible effect of the DWBC is introduced as anomalous stretching of the water column in a manner consistent with certain qualitative aspects of the observed features. This additional positive vorticity may be generated by a deep downwelling associated with horizontal shears of the DWBC. It is found that separation latitudes are farther to the south as the stretching is strengthened. Vertical motion required for a southward shift of order unity (e.g., 500 km) is estimated to be of the order of 0.05 mm s m 1 , in reasonable agreement with the observed values. It is suggested that since the DWBC is intimately linked with the thermohaline circulation, a meridional migration of the Gulf Stream separation might reflect long-term variations in the North Atlantic.