Hurricanes and Storms of the West Indies, 8fc. 325 



pect its recurrence from the opposite quarter. The most pro- 

 mising mode of mitigating its violence, and at the same time 

 shortening its duration, is to stand to the southwai'd upon the 

 •wind, as long as may be necessary or possible ; and if the move- 

 ment succeeds, the wind will gradually head you off in the same 

 direction. If it becomes necessary to heave-too, and the wind 

 does not veer, be prepared for a blast from the north-west. 



3. In the same latitudes a vessel scudding in a gale, with the 

 wind at east or north-east, shortens its duration. On the con- 

 trary, a vessel scudding before a south-westerly or westerly gale, 

 will thereby increase its duration. 



4. A vessel which is pursuing her course to the westward or 

 south-westward, in this part of the Atlantic, meets the storms 

 in their course, and thereby shortens the periods of their occur- 

 rence, and will encounter more gales in an equal number of 

 days than if stationary, or sailing in a different direction. 



5. On the other hand, vessels, while sailing to the eastward or 

 north-eastward, or in the course of the storms, will lengthen the 

 periods between their occurrence, and consequently experience 

 them less frequently than vessels sailing on a different course. 

 The difference of exposure which results from these opposite 

 courses on the American coast may in most cases be estimated 

 as nearly two to one. 



6. The hazard from casualties, and of consequence the value 

 of insurance, is enhanced or diminished by the direction of the 

 passage, as shewn under the two last heads. 



7. As the ordinary routine of the winds and weather in these 

 latitudes often correspond to the phases which are exhibited by 

 the storms as before described, a correct opinion, founded upon 

 this resemblance, can often be formed of the approaching 

 changes of wind and weather, which may be highly useful to 

 the observing navigator. 



8. It will be perceived from the foregoing facts, that the oc- 

 currence of a storm at a particular locality has no immediate 

 connection with astronomical periods, such as the changes of 

 the moon, or the time of the equinoxes. 



9. A due consideration of the facts which have been stated, 

 particularly those under our twelfth head, will inspire ad- 

 ditional confidence in the indications of the barometer, and these 



