OBSERVATIONS ON THE WAVES. 



31 



determine the heig"ht^ lengthy and velocity of the 

 waves. The results will be apparent from the fol- 



lowing* tabular view.* 



Date 



1847. 



April 21 

 23 



)> 



j> 



J? 



jj 



24 



25 



26 



o 





8 

 6 

 9 



No. 



5 



May 2 



„ 3 





Knots 



7.2 



6 



4&5 



be 





- 1^ 

 K 



Feet. 



o 

 is > 



bfi c3 

 C > 

 « p- 



22 



20 



20 



7 22 



7&8 



Paths. 



17 



55 



43 



50 



37 



33 



57 

 35 



CD 05 



Miles, 



27.0 



24.5 



24 



22.1 



22.1 



26.2 



22.0 



Remarks. 



Ship before the wind 

 with a heavy fol- 

 lowing sea. 



>> 



>7 



)' 



J> 



» 



M 



» 



31 



Sea irregular, observa- 

 tions not very good. 



Wind and sea on port 

 quarter. 



Oceanic birds were plentiful in our wake^ and 

 g'radually dropped off as we approached the tropic. 



* The height was determined by watching when the crest of 

 the wave was on a level with the observer's eye (the height above 

 the trough of the sea being known), either while standing on the 

 poop or in the mizzen rigging ; this must be reduced to one half 

 to obtain the absolute height of the wave above the mean level of 

 the sea. The length and velocity were found by noting the time 

 taken by the wave to traverse the measured distance (100 yards) 

 between the ship and the spar towing astern. In column 3rd, 

 the number 4 denotes a '* moderate breeze," and 5 a" fresh 

 breeze.'* 



