CLIMATE, WEATHER, TIDES, ETC. 47 



and east coast of Yezo during the summer are no doubt caused 

 by the southerly winds passing first over the warm waters of the 

 Kuro Shiwo (black stream), and its branch, the Kamchatka 

 currents — the mean summer temperature of which is 82° — and 

 then on to the cold water of the Oya Shiwo, the temperature of 

 which, along the Kurils, is usually from 35° to 36°. 



These fogs vary in their nature. Sometimes they are dry, in 

 which case they usually extend to a considerable height, and in 

 calm weather will " lift " some 80 or 100 feet or more above the 

 surface of the sea, leaving it perfectly clear below. At other times 

 the fogs are dense and full of moisture, amounting almost to a 

 drizzling rain. These often reach to a considerable height, and are 

 generally accompanied by a cloudy sky. 



Another kind occurs in bands of thick wet fog, which often 

 do not extend to a greater height than 70 or 80 feet above the 

 surface. Above these banks the sun is usually shining from a 

 cloudless sky. In such cases, by going to the mast-head it is 

 often possible to see the land at a considerable distance, when 

 from the deck one cannot see much further than the vessel's 

 length. 



The islands are seldom entirely enveloped in fog ; there is 

 nearly always a clear space on the lee side. With southerly and 

 south-easterly light winds prevailing during the summer months, 

 the north-west sides of the islands are freest from fogs. With a 

 south-west breeze, the fog travels up both sides, and the clear 

 spaces are at the north-east ends. With ligJd westerly, north- 

 westerly, and northerly winds, the fog will lie against the north- 

 west coasts of the islands, whilst the south-east sides will be clear ; 

 but with fresh breezes from these quarters, the fog is all blown 

 away into the Pacific, and the atmosphere becomes clear all round. 

 Fog in strata-like bands indicates clearing weather. 



When the tops of the mountains can be seen, a change of wind 

 or weather is often foreshown by the formation of small clouds on 

 the peaks. These clouds will invariably be formed first on that 

 side from which the wind is coming. Heavy caps on the peaks 

 denote the approach of bad weather. 



Owing to fog, uncertain currents, and unsurveyed waters, the 

 navigation of the Kuril Islands presents, to those who do not know 

 them, many difficulties, accompanied by considerable anxiety. 



