VALUE OF WEATHER OBSERVATIONS 137 



against southerly and southeasterly winds, but as these seemed to be 

 winter winds the harbor would doubtless be safe in summer. The 

 explanation, which could not be given in Captain Lewis's time, is to-day 

 found in the frequency of strong southerly winds during the cyclonic 

 storm season (winter) of the Pacific coast. If any one can read Cap- 

 tain Lewis's weather record for the northern Pacific coast without 

 gaining from it a vivid idea of the cloudiness, the heavy rainfall, the 

 high winds, the small amount of sunshine and withal the mildness of 

 the winter of the particular district which the expedition encamped, 

 he must be a hopelessly unappreciative and unintelligent person. 



In looking over what I have written on the weather records of the 

 Lewis and Clark Expedition, I realize that I have failed to bring out, 

 with any of the clearness which it was my hope to secure, the climatic 

 picture which Captain Lewis makes so distinct and so interesting. 

 In spite of the deficiencies in my presentation, I hope, nevertheless, 

 that I have to some extent succeeded in emphasizing the value of non- 

 instrumental meteorological observations. 



VOL. LXXX. — 16. 



