216 OBSERVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



Strong gales of wind do not often occur in May, June, or July ; but after 

 the middle of August they are often of great strength, and it becomes the 

 more necessary to attend carefully to the indications of the barometer. 

 Strong winds from East, round South, to W.S.W., are always accompanied 

 by a falling barometer. When, therefore, these winds begin to abate, and 

 the barometer at the same time ceases to fall, a change of wind, more or 

 less sudden, to the opposite direction may be expected, with a rising 

 barometer and fine weather ; and if it be winter, with intense frost, coat- 

 ing the vessel, her sails, and rigging, with ice. 



Again, a high barometer, stationary or beginning to fall, indicates that 

 a S.E. or S.W. wind, with accompanying rain and fog, is not far distant ; 

 and if, at the same time, there be a bank of clouds rising above the North- 

 western horizon, the indication is certain. 



Bay of Fundy. — The prevailing winds in summer are from South to 

 S.W., in autumn from North to N.E. Winds from South to S.W. generally 

 bring fog, which often comes on suddenly. In summer, the haze from 

 burning forests in Maine is almost as bad as fog. 



South Cabolina, &c. — About this coast, if the wind blov/s hard from 

 the N.E. quarter, without rain, it commonly continues so for some time, 

 perhaps three or four days ; but, if such winds are attended with rain, 

 they generally shift to the East, E.S.E., and S.E. S.E. winds blow right 

 in on the coast ; but they seldom blow dry, or continue long. In six, eight, 

 or ten hours after their commencement, the sky begins to look dirty, which 

 soon produces rain. When it comes to blow and rain very hard, you may 

 be sure the wind will fly round to the N.W. quarter, and blow hard for 

 twenty or thirty hours, with a clear sky. 



North- West winds are always attended with clear weather ; they some- 

 times blow very hard, but seldom for longer than thirty hours. The most 

 lasting winds are those which blow from the S.S.W. and W.N.W., and 

 from the North to the E.N.E. The weather is most settled when the wind 

 is in any of these quarters. 



In summer time thunder-gusts are very common on this coast ; they 

 always come from the N.W. quarter, and are sometimes so heavy that no 

 canvas can withstand their fury ; they come on so suddenly, that the 

 greatest precaution is necessary to guard against the effects of tiieir 

 viol^noe. 



