47 BOATS IN SUDDEN STORMS. 



everywhere common, but one of the most dangerous 

 ocean fishing grounds we have ever seen is probably 

 in Table Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope. Here 

 boatmen have to be constantly on the look-out for 

 dangerous squalls, and sudden wind storms of great 

 intensity, arising during mid-summer with a cloudless 

 sky. These gales are of entirely local character; it 

 may for instance be a perfect calm on shore, and 

 yet one of these storms may be seen raging across 

 a belt of water, not more than a mile from land. There 

 is most excellent fishing to be had in Table Bay, but 

 boats used for fishing in such a place, and the men 

 who work them must always go out prepared to meet 

 one of these sudden emergencies. On lakes however, 

 the boats are seldom what could be called " good sea 

 boats," yet local squalls descending ravines from hills 

 etc. , are on some lakes of an exceedingly sudden and 

 dangerous character. The waves rise exactly as at sea 

 in a few moments, but frequently to our mind assume 

 an even still more dangerous aspect than an ocean 

 sea-way in a similar time. Fresh water waves, very 

 short and irregular, seem to come tumbling in from 

 all sides, much like water in a pot that is boiling briskly. 

 A storm upon a large lake is therefore no joking matter. 



If we might venture to hazard a conjecture as to 

 why waves should rise more quickly in fresh than in 

 salt water, we should say it is because of its lesser 

 weight, or specific gravity, which stands at 1000 for 

 fresh water, as against say 1026 for sea water; * and 



* The 'specific gravities of ocean water in the North Atlantic vary 

 from 1026 to 1028-5, being least in the Equatorial region of constant 

 rains from Lat. 15 N. to the Equator, and greatest in the region of 

 minimum rainfall, Lat. 25 to 30 W. (see Encycl. Brit., Qth. Edit., 

 Vol. xxi, pp. 613 14. Art. "Sea Water"). 



