HUREICANES. 233 



observed, so as to determine in what part of the Storm the vessel is involved, 

 and the approximate bearing of the centre. Also carefully and frequently 

 observe and record the changes of the barometer, and the direction of the 

 wind and lower clouds. 



First and foremost we give the old time honoured Eight Point Eule for 

 finding the approximate bearing of the centre, though, as previously stated 

 in (155), from recent advances in our knowledge of these Storms, the old 

 rules for dealing with them need revision, especially in low latitudes. 

 Eules based upon the strictly circular theory of the wind (see " Storm 

 Card " diagram, page 225) may be reliable near the centre and in high 

 latitudes, but nearer the Equator become unreliable. 



Eight Point Rule. — Look to the wind's eye — note its bearing by the 

 compass — take the eighth point to the RIGHT thereof — and that will be 

 the bearing of the centre of the storm if in North latitude ; or, if in South 

 latitude, it will be the eighth point to the LEFT of the direction of the 

 wind. For example : Suppose the vessel to be in lat. 14° N., with a gale 

 of wind from E.S.E., and the barometer and sky indicating a Cyclone — 

 then look at the compass, take the eighth point to the right of E.S.E., 

 and S.S.W. will be the bearing of the brewing storm, if it he of a revolving 

 tj^e; or, under similar appearances of the weather, in lat. 14° S., with 

 the wind S.W., take eight points to the left of S.W., and S.E. will conse- 

 quently be the direction of the centre of the impending gale. In the former 

 case, the vessel will be on the Northern edge of the storm-field ; and in the 

 latter, she will be somewhere in its North- Western segment. 



The Eight Point Eule gives only an approximate idea of the bearing of 

 the centre, and it is probably less reliable in the dangerous than in the 

 navigable semicircle. For instance, with the wind from N.E., the centre 

 may bear anywhere from South to S.E. ; with the wind East, it may bear 

 from S.W. to South; and with the wind S.E., it may bear S.W., West, or 

 even W.N.W. in the Tropics. 



The best rule is that : — The centre bears about eight points to the right 

 of the direction from which the low clouds come, or, what is the same 

 thing, eight points to the right of the wind at the moment of a sudden 

 shift in a heavy squall. After such a shift, the wind will remain steady 

 in direction for a time, but the centre is meanwhile moving along, and 

 the angle of bearing changes until the next shift, when it becomes eight 

 points again. 



(171.) Line of Progression. — Having ascertained approximately the 

 bearing of the centre, the next step is to ascertain its probable distance, 

 and the path along which it is moving, for which the reader is referred to 

 the diagrams, and the remarks on pages 229 — 232. 



(172.) Dangerous and Navigable Semicircles. — From what has been 

 stated, it needs but little consideration to show that, for a sailing vessel 

 especially, one part of the Storm must be more dangerous than the other, 

 and that is the right-hand semicircle facing its path, as here the winds 

 may drive her in front of the Storm's track, where she may be over- 

 whelmed by the vortex. A steamer, on the other hand, with plenty of 

 sea-room, should have no difficulty in manoeuvring so as to avoid it. 



B. A. 0. 31 



