246 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



and the same may be said of navigation to the Northward, for thftse 

 Hurricanes cross the Eastern portion of the Gulf and the Southern States 

 with great velocity after curving, and frequently surprise ships which are 

 sailing "Westward, and reach those which a short time before left for the 

 North. 



When the Hurricane is to the North of Havana, or bears between West 

 and North : — 



1. Navigation to the Eastward is not only without danger, but also has 

 the advantage of favourable winds. 



2. Navigation to the North or to the West is also without danger if the 

 Hurricane has already curved, because then the Storm travels faster than 

 a ship and outstrips her rapidly. But if the Hurricane is curving, although 

 navigation to the Westward is without danger in some cases, it will always 

 be disadvantageous, because it is necessary to struggle against headwinds 

 and heavy seas, wasting time, consuming coal uselessly, and straining the 

 vessel without advancing much. To start North, this case presents no 

 danger, but there may be danger in continuing in that direction. At all 

 events the case is very simple, and if the captain has not intentionally put 

 himself into the storm, or does not get in front of it, it is very certain that 

 it will not seek him. It is evident, then, that he should not venture to 

 pass Florida Strait in the storm, and leave the centre to the West or bear- 

 ing between West and South, but rather wait until it has finished curving 

 and disappears to the Northward, or between North and East. 



(188.) Captains of vessels making the voyage from Spain to Cuba by 

 way of Puerto Eico, from July to the end of October, on entering the zone 

 of storms should keep a good look-out for the first indications of the Hurri- 

 cane, in order not to be surprised and perhaps overwhelmed. This refers 

 to storms in their first branch, distant from their origin and from the curve 

 of their track, and which are violent, of short radius, and advance with 

 great rapidity. If the first indications show that the bearing of the centre 

 is South or S.W., by laying the ship to or slowing down, the storm will 

 withdraw to the Westward or between West and North. If it appears 

 between S.E. and South, it will not be prudent to go on, or at least it will 

 be necessary to use much caution, moderating the speed as long as the 

 storm does not move off to the S.W. 



If the first indications show the centre to bear S.E., or S.E. by E., the 

 ship is in a much more critical situation, perhaps in the track itself, and 

 not very distant from the centre in the dangerous semicircle. She should 

 be laid-to immediately, and allowed to reach N.E. as much as possible, 

 utilizing for this purpose the diverging gusts of the first squalls even before 

 the Cyclonic winds of the body of the storm are well established. If, 

 during this manoeuvre, it is seen that the centre moves towards the South, 

 keep on lying-to, always on the starboai'd tack, luffing as the wind shifts 

 to the right until it blows from the third or fourth quadrant. 



If, having laid his ship to at the first indication of the storm, and it 

 veers towards the first quadrant, the captain should see that the centre 

 maintains the same bearing, that the barometer falls rapidly, and the wind 

 increases in strength every moment, then the ship is in front of the track 



