Storms oftlte WeU Indies. 27 



opposite courses, on the American coast, may, in most cases, be 

 estioiated 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 shown under the last two heads. 



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

 latitudes, often corresponds 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 observ- 

 ing navigator. 



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

 particularly those under our twelfth head, will inspire additional 

 confidence in the indications of the barometer, and these ought 

 not to be neglected, even should the fall of the mercury be un- 

 attended by any appearance of violence in the weather, as the 

 other side of the gale will be pretty sure to take effect, and of- 

 ten in a manner so sudden and violent as to more than compen- 

 sate for its previous forbearance. Not the least reliance, how- 

 ever, should be placed upon the prognostics which are usually 

 attached to the scale of the barometer, such as set-fair, fair, 

 change, rain, &c. as, in this region at least, they serve no other 

 purpose than to bring this valuable instrument into discredit. 

 It is the mere rising and falling of the mercury which chiefly 

 deserves attention, and not its conformity tu a particular point 

 in the scale of elevation. 



9. These practical inferences apply in terms chiefly to storms 

 which have passed to the northward of the thirtieth degree of 

 latitude on the American coast, but, with the necessary modifi- 

 cation as to the point of the compass, which results from the 

 westerly course pursued by the storm while in the lower lati- 

 tudes, are, for the most part, equally applicable to the storms 

 and hurricanes which occur in the West Indies, and south of the 

 parallel of 30°. As the marked occurrence of tempestuous wea- 

 ther is here less frequent, it may be sufficient to notice, that the 

 point of direction, in cases which are otherwise analogous, is, m 

 the West Indian Seas, about ten or twelve points of the com- 

 pass more to the left than on the coast of the United States, m 

 the latitude of New York. 



