THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 465 



the following form, noting thie true course and distance between each two 

 casts, and carefully observing the quality of the ground as well as the 

 depth of the water : — 



True Course. | Distance. | Depth. | Quality of the Ground. 



And where a few of these are obtained and set off upon the chart, one 

 will check the other. Ships, as well as steamers, have been lost by not 

 " stopping to sound" (though this difficulty has now been surmounted to a 

 great extent by improved and special sounding apparatus). 



The prevalent winds are considered to be S.W. and Westerly from May 

 to December, both inclusive, and from January to April, both inclusive ; 

 although long and heavy S.W. and Westerly gales may occur at this latter 

 season, yet they are more frequently interrupted by Northerly and N.E. 

 winds, particularly in February and March. N.W. winds are considered 

 to be generally of short duration. 



To approach and pass Scilly, the parallel of 49° 15' to 49° 25' has 

 generally been recommended ; in place of which I would recommend that 

 from 49° 30' to 49° 40', according to the wind, &c., as likely be attended 

 with greater safety ; and if the Bishop Eock or Scilly * be not made, 

 having taken every precaution to ascertain the longitude, once that its 

 meridian is past, strike for the Lizard, and if possible, make it, and thence 

 proceed by the rules of the best coasters. Lights can usually be seen 

 when celestial observations cannot be made ; and as the navigation is 

 generally free from outlying dangers, courses should be shaped from one 

 prominent point or light to the next, keeping at a moderate distance to 

 ensTire seeing them, if possible. The ships generally met with in this 

 route are coasters, and they keep a good look-out, and are generally very 

 anxious to get out of the way of large foreign-going ships. 



Easterly Winds in the Winter and Spring Months. — Those winds are 

 very destructive upon the East coast, and often cause heavy losses and 

 great detention among the shipping ; and, although they may blow long 

 and steady in all the Channel, yet at times they do not extend to the 

 Westward of Cork, but more generally cease about the edge of soundings ; 

 I have known them to blow long and remarkably steady in the Bristol 

 Channel, and yet ships were arriving at Cork with heavy S.W. winds. 



Whilst speaking of soundings and Channel navigation, I want to strongly 

 urge the use of Captain Suinner's method, as by it a single altitude giving 

 the line AA, with a cast of the lead, or a bearing of the land, will often fix 

 a ship's position with certainty, and its many uses and advantages will 

 soon suggest themselves after a little practice. 



My reasons for dissenting from choosing the parallel of 49° 15' to 49° 25' 

 to approach the Channel, are : — 



1st. A ship in this parallel will pass from 30 to 40 miles to the South- 

 ward of Scilly, and will not expect to see it. I think that this precau- 

 tion attaches too much importance to Major Kennell's Thwart-Channel 



• In thick weather, vessels are recomraended not to approach the Scilly IsJaudji 

 within the depth of 60 fathoms. 



N. A. 0. 60 



