ACBOSS THE EQUA-TOE. 485 



Southern half of the square. The chart shows that confused seas are not 

 unconamon. 



The Remarks on Wind, for Square 303, show that ships which crossed 

 the Equator to the Westward of 30° W. were not *nuch hampered, but 

 there seems to be no inducement for vessels to cross to the Westward of 

 longitude 28° W. 



Ships bound to the Northward should carefully avoid the Eastern side of 

 Square 3, where the North-Easterly Wind is light, and there is much light 

 North- Westerly Wind ; they should cross the Equator to the Westward 

 of 25°, and to the Eastward of 30° W., by which means they will not get 

 too near feke coast of South America, where light North -Easterly Winds 

 are not uncommon. 



MdiTch. 



Sfeips hound to the Southioard should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, the N.E. Trade being stronger on the Western than on the 

 Eastern sides of Squares 39 and 3. The March diagram shows that be- 

 tween 35° and 40° W., North-Easterly Winds prevail to the coast of South 

 America, and vo 2° S between 30° and 35° W. 



Winds. — Referring to the Eastern half of the March Wind Chart for 

 Square 303, and taking S.E. by E. as a central point, then, when the 

 Wind is not from that point : — 



Between 0° & 2° S. the prob. is about 3 to 1 that it will b« more E.4y. or N.E.-ly. 

 2°& 4°S. „ „ 3 to 2 



„ 4° & 6° S. „ „ 3 to 2 „ „ Southerly. 



6°& 8°S. „ „ 5 to 4 



8°&10°S. „ „ 5 to 3 „ „ B..ly.or K.F.-ly. 



Current. — The prevailing Current in this part is still Westerly, though 

 now inclined more to the Southward, and its rate from 20 to 30 miles in 

 24 hours; it is strongest between 2° and 6° S., weakest between 8° and 

 10° S. There is a large per-centage of smooth sea in March. 



The Remarks on Wind, for Square 303, show that ships which crossed 

 the Equator between 29° and 30° W. were hampered by the land ; so that 

 it seems best to cross the Equator in 27° or 28° W. 



Ships hound to the Northward should cross the Equator between 26'' and 

 30° W., this will enable them to avoid the North-Easterly Winds which 

 are common in Square 303, and, on the other hand, the light North- 

 westerly Winds and Calms which are common on the Eastern side of 

 Square 3. 



April. 



Ships bound to the Southward should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, for although the N.E. Trade is as strong on the Eastern as 

 on the Western side of Square 39, it is much stronger on the Western than 



