The Tides. 345 



tures : the tides go on increasing from the quadra- 

 tures to the syzigies, and decreasing from the 

 syzigies to the quadratures. 



2dly, When the moon is in the syzigies 

 or quadratures, the tide is at the highest three 

 hours after the moon has passed the meridian. 

 When the moon is going from the syzigies to the 

 quadratures, the time of high water is rather 

 sooner than these three hours. The contrary hap- 

 pens when the moon passes from the quadratures 

 to the syzigies. 



Bdly, Whether the moon be in the southern 

 or the northern hemisphere, the time of high 

 tide does not happen any later in northern cli- 

 mates. 



The annual period is distinguished by these 

 circumstances : 1st, That at the time of the 

 equinoxes the spring tides are higher than at any 

 other season of the year, and the neap tides the 

 lowest, because at these periods the sun and 

 moon are in the equator. At the solstices, on 

 the contrary, the spring tides are not so high as 

 in other lunations; nor the neap tides so low 

 as at other periods. The tides also are higher 

 at the winter than at the summer solstice. 



2dly, The tides are higher in proportion as 

 the moon is near the earth, that is, when she is 

 in her perige. They are also higher when the 

 moon is near the equator, and has of course less 

 declination. In general, then 5 it may be said, the 



Q5 



