BEITISH AMERICA. 213 



Gibraltar. Whenever there, is southing in the wind, the atmosphere is 

 always hazy ; and if to the Westward of South a dampness ensues, but if 

 to the Eastward of South it becomes hot and dry. 



(149.) Strait of Gibraltar. — It may be said that two winds only prevail 

 constantly in the Strait of Gibraltar. They are those from East and West, 

 being called by local seamen Levante and Ponente. These winds are, gene- 

 rally speaking, the results of those from N.E. and S.E., as well as from 

 N.W. and S.W., that are blowing outside the two ends of the strait, and 

 which, on reaching the narrows of the strait, become East and West. 

 Nevertheless, strong South-Easters do not fail to blow in the strait, pro- 

 ducing serious damage in the Bay of Algeciras, particularly in winter ; as 

 well as South- Westers quite as severe, and commonly called Vendavales. 

 According to observations made at Gibraltar, it appears that Easterly 

 winds prevail during July, August, September, March, and December; 

 and that in the other months East and West winds prevail alternately, 

 but mostly the latter.* 



(150.) America. — When navigating the East Coast of Newfoundland, 

 seamen should be on their guard against an indraught among the Fogo 

 and Wadham Islands into Sir Charles Hamilton Sound, Bonavista, Trinity, 

 and Conception Bays ; with Easterly and N.E. winds, this indraught is 

 very strong, and these winds are accompanied by thick weather. — H.M.S. 

 Tenedos, 1885. 



The Gulf and Eivbr of St. Lawrence. — Rear- Admiral Bayfield states 

 that, during the navigable season, the prevailing winds are either directly 

 up or directly down the estuary of the St. Lawrence, following the course 

 of the chains of high lands on either side of the great valley of the river. 

 Thus, a S.E. wind in the gulf becomes E.S.E. between Anticosti and the 

 South coast, E.N.E. above Point de Monts, and N.E. above Green Island. 

 The Westerly winds do not appear to be so much guided in direction by 

 the high lands, excepting along the South coast, where a W.S.W. wind at 

 the Isle Bic has been seen to become West, W.N.W., and N.W., on run- 

 ning down along the high and curved South coast, until it became a 

 N.N.W. wind at Cape Gasp6. These winds frequently blow strong for 

 three or four days in succession ; the Westerly winds being almost always 

 accompanied with fine, dry, clear, and sunny weather ; the Easterly winds 

 as frequently with the contrary, cold, wet, and foggy. In the spring, the 

 Easterly winds prevail most, frequently blowing for several weeks in succes- 

 sion. As the summer advances, the Westerly winds become more frequent, 

 and the S. W. wind may be said to be the prevailing wind in summer, in all 

 parts of the river and gulf. Light South winds take place occasionally ; 

 but North winds are not common in summer, although they sometimes 

 occur. Steady North winds do not blow frequently before September, 

 excepting for a few hours at a time, when they generally succeed Easterly 



• Further information on the Winds, &c., of the Strait of Gibraltar, will be found in 

 the Sailing Directions accompanying the Charts , 



