214 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



winds which have died away to a calm, forming the commencement of 

 strong winds, and usually veering to the S.W. The N.W. wind is dry, 

 with bright clear sky, flying clouds, and showers. 



After the autumnal Equinox, winds to the Northward of West become 

 more common, and are then often strong steady winds of considerable 

 duration. In the months of October and November, the N.W. wind fre- 

 quently blows with great violence, in heavy squalls, with passing showers 

 of hail and snow, and attended with sharp frost. 



Thunder-storms are not uncommon in July and August ; they seldom 

 last above an hour or two, but the wind proceeding from them is, in 

 general, violent and sudden, particularly when near the mountainous part 

 of the coast ; sail should be fully and quickly reduced on their approach. 



Strong winds seldom veer from one quarter of the compass to another 

 directly or nearly contrary ; in general they die away by degrees to a calm, 

 and are succeeded by a wind in the opposite direction. It is not here 

 meant that they may not veer to the amount of several points. N.W. winds 

 seldom veer round by North and N.E. to East and S.E. ; but they do 

 frequently, by degrees, to the S.W., after becoming moderate. S.W. winds 

 seldom veer by the N.W. and North to the Eastward, but sometimes by 

 the South to S.E. and East. Easterly winds generally decrease to a calm, 

 succeeded by a wind from the opposite direction. 



In the fine weather Westerly winds of summer, a fresh top-gallant breeze 

 will often decrease to a light breeze or calm at night, and spring up again 

 from the same quarter on the following morning ; under these circum- 

 stances only, may a land-breeze off the North coast be looked for. The 

 same has been observed off the South coast also, but not so decidedly, nor 

 extending so far off shore. Admiral Bayfield adds, I have occasionally 

 carried the North land-wind nearly over to the South coast just before 

 daylight; but have never observed the South land-wind extend more than 

 5 or 6 miles off, and that very rarely. Under the same circumstances, 

 that is, with a fine weather Westerly wind going down with the sun, a 

 S.W. land-breeze will frequently be found blowing off the North coast of 

 Anticosti at night and during the early part of the morning. If, however, 

 the weather be not settled fair, and the wind does not fall with the sun, 

 it will usually prove worse than useless to run a vessel close inshore at 

 night in the hope of a breeze off the land. 



Such is the usual course of the winds in common seasons, in which a 

 very heavy gale of wind will probably not be experienced from May to 

 October, although close-reefed topsail breezes are usually common enough. 

 Occasionally, however, there are years, the character of which is decidedly 

 stormy. Gales of wind, of considerable strength, then follow each other 

 ill quick succession, and from opposite quarters. 



Among the difficulties of the navigation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are 

 the Fogs and Ice. In spring, the entrance and Eastern parts are frequently 

 covered with Ice, and vessels are sometimes beset for many days. Being 

 unfitted for contending with this danger, they often suffer from it, and are 

 occasionally lost. But all danger from Ice is far less than that which arises 

 from the prevalence of Fogs: these may occur at any time during the open 

 or navigable season, but are most frequent in the early part of summer. 



