[DAWSON] EFFECT OF WIND ON CURRENTS AND TiDAL STREAMS 187 



than before heavy winds from a westerly direction, as this is the usual 

 direction of the prevailing winds. 



A description of wind disturbance of this character on the constant 

 current off the east coast of ISTewfoundland, has already been given. Its 

 action on weak currents and tidal streams may best be explained by the 

 further examples following. 



In the Gulf of St. Lawrence along the west coast of Newfoundland, 

 the prevailing direction of the set is to the E. N. E. parallel with the 

 shore. On the whole, it has that direction for rather more than two- 

 thirds of the time, with a speed not exceeding one knot per hour. For 

 12 to 20 hours before the arrival of a south-westerly gale, the current 

 sets more strongly in this usual north-eastward direction. Before a 

 north-easterly gale arrives, it slacks. 



On the south coast of Newfoundland from Cape St. Mary to Cape 

 Eace, the only set to the S. E. occurs during ebb tide, and this is weak. 

 Any strong set to the S. E. or S. is a sign of bad weather. The set of 

 the current is thus towards the point from which the wind is about to 

 come. The fishermen regard this as an unfailing indication, and at 

 once run for shelter. 



Off Cape St. Mary the set northward during the flood is so much 

 gtronger than to the south and south-east with the ebb, that it will often 

 continue northward against a strong N. E. wind. But if there is any 

 strong set to the S. E. or S., a gale from that quarter will follow. Off 

 St. Shots on the east side of St. Mary's bay, during twenty-four hours be- 

 fore a ]Sr. or N. E. wind begins, the flood which there sets N. "W. or N. 

 will run more strongly and for longer than the usual tidal periods. 



Also, outside the line of the Capes on this coast, the current sets 

 Eouth-eastward before bad weather, which comes from that direction in 

 summer. If the current continues to run into the wind after it begins 

 to blow, it indicates that the gale will be heavy. 



These descriptions of the effect of the weather along this coast could 

 readily be amplified; but this outline will suffice, in which every state- 

 ment is ba&ed on long experience, or is confirmed by several men. The 

 main feature is the fact of the current setting " into the weather " as 

 they express it; and for this it is difficult to give a satisfactory explana- 

 tion without more extended investigation. But the set of the current 

 towards the point from which a wind is about to come, is in accord with 

 the universal testimony of the fishermen throughout these regions. Of 

 all signs of bad weather, it is the one which they appear to find the most 

 trustworthy. 



At the narrowest part of Northumberland strait, off Cape Tor- 

 mentine, the flood sets S. E. and the ebb N. W. and the strongest winds 



