30 WAVES OF THE SEA 



is 46 feet. The distance from the lower end of the 

 lake being 7 statute miles, or 36,960 feet, the 

 length attained by the waves is i-8o3rd of this dis- 

 tance. If we take the average length of the series 

 of waves as 23 feet (since when they commence 

 their length is very small), the number of waves in 

 series from end to end of the lake was 1,608. 



The wind conditions were similar to those 

 described for the Round Pond at Kensington and 

 for the Rock Pool at Sidmouth. Thus we see that 

 the length of the storm-waves is increased when 

 the length of the sheet of water is increased, but 

 more slowly. 



The above, however, are not the greatest waves 

 which can be formed on Coniston Water, although 

 they are probably about as large as are formed in 

 ordinary gales. The following observations sup- 

 plied to me by Mr. Hamil illustrate the way in 

 which waves larger than ordinary are produced. 

 They indicate a fact (which we shall find illus- 

 trated later when dealing with the great waves 

 of high southern latitudes e.g., between the Cape 

 of Good Hope and Australia) that the wave -raising 

 power of wind is much greater when operating 

 upon water already in waves than upon nearly 

 smooth water. 



Mr. Hamil finds that the largest waves on 



