518 PASSAGES OVEB THE ATLANTIC. 



that has been generally made by vessels taking the Southern route is in 

 their not going far enough South to get well into the Trades. The Wind 

 Chart will leave no one in doubt upon that point, and no vessel attempting 

 the Southern route should think of steering North, whatever be her port, 

 until she falls into the great track followed by the homeward-bound vessels 

 from the other hemisphere. They cross 25° N. in about 65^ \V. 



Dull-sailing passenger ships from the North of Europe would do well, 

 especially from December to March, inclusive, by taking the Southern 

 route, even though they be bound to New York. If they cannot gain time 

 by this route, they will gain at least smooth water and pleasant weather 

 until they reach the offings of our own coasts. 



In summer, the Great Circle route is the best to all the Atlantic ports. 

 Even for the Gulf ports and Cuba the route in summer time should be 

 decided upon according to the wind one meets with while gaining an 

 offing from Europe, rather than by considerations growing out of any 

 fancied preference as to winds by the way. If they be such as to force 

 you to the South, make as much Westing as you can before crossing the 

 parallel of 38°. Having crossed that parallel, it is then advisable to go 

 South in search of the N.S. Trades to carry you into the Gulf. 



The reason why the North or Great Circle route is recommended to 

 vessels bound to any of the Atlantic ports during the summer and fall 

 months, from May to October, inclusive ; the reason why no preference is 

 given to the Southern route over the Great Circle during that period, even 

 for Gulf-bound vessels ; and the reason why such decided preference is 

 given to the Southern route, from December to March ; may be gathered 

 from a little reflection as to the course of the Trade Winds, and careful 

 consideration. 



From December to March gales of wind are most frequent along the 

 Northern route. These are mostly from the Westward. This circum- 

 stance, therefore, is against the Great Circle route in the winter time. 

 But from May to October the case is different. The gales along the Great 

 Circle are much less prevalent. 



On the other hand, the Trade Winds being a flow of air from colder to 

 warmer latitudes, the difference of the temperature between the Calms of 

 Cancer, from which, and the Calm belt of the Equator, into which the 

 Trade Winds flow, is greater in the winter than in the summer time ; con- 

 sequently the more rapid, constant, and steady is the v,'inter flow. 



In the summer, however, the air in the Calm belt of Cancer, though it 

 be as far North as 35°, attains as high a temperature, especially on the 

 continents of Africa and America, as it does in the belt of Equatorial 

 Calms. Then why should not the air flow towards those continental 

 heated places as well as to the Equator ? It does ; and thus the Trade 

 Winds are frequently broken up in the summer time, and therefore they 

 cannot be relied on as in winter. There is another reason why the winter 

 Trades should be fresher, more steady, and constant than the summer 

 Trades, and it is this : In the winter time the Calm belt of Cancer, out of 

 which the Trade Winds flow, is some 500 or 600 miles nearer thau it is in 

 the summer to the Equatorial Calm belt into which the Trade Winds 

 D^ow — the places of high and low barometer are thon closer to each other ; 



