588 SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS ON WIND^, ETC. 



latitude ; and always make them from the S.W., if possible, looking out 

 in time for the land, as, owing to the set of the Gulf Stream, and th? 

 general tendency of the currents to the eastward, ships from the coast of 

 America will almost always be far ahead of their reckoning. Admiral 

 Murray says, " I recommend you to make great allowance for your being 

 to the eastward of your reckoning, and try to fall into the parallel of 

 latitude above mentioned, in longitude 70° or 71° W." 



Having ascertained your latitude, and being well to the westward, get 

 into the parallel of 32° 5', and steer true East ; this course will bring you 

 to within sight of the islands, passing clear to the South of the western 

 dangers. Should the wind in the night incline to the northward, keep in 

 32° 7' N. ; but if to the southward, in 32° 2'. 



The soundings do not extend more than 2 miles from the shore along 

 this coast ; therefore you have only a strict look-out to depend on for 

 safety. You must avoid, by all means, running in the night, without 

 having a good observation the preceding day, and being pretty sure of 

 your longitude. 



In the winter, with the wind from the N.E., there is a strong set to the 

 S.W. along this coast, and it is very tedious and unpleasant to turn to 

 windward, the wind blow^ing in heavy squalls at intervals. 



Admiral Murray says that " in case you have been driven to the east- 

 ward of the islands (a situation, however, which you are to avoid with the 

 utmost care), you may run for them in lat. 32° 14' N., which will bring 

 you to them 6 or 7 miles to the southward of St. David's Head, for which 

 you may haul up upon making the land ; but you are not to run till you 

 are far enough to the S.W. to follow the directions before given for coming 

 from the west, should you make sail for Bermuda from any part of the 

 Gulf Stream or without it." 



Remarks by Col. Sir W. Reid.— The firsthalf of a revolving gale is a 

 fair wind from Bermuda to New York, because in it the wind blows from 

 the East ; but the last half is a fair wind from New York to Bermuda. 



During the winter season, most of the gales which pass along the coast 

 of North America are revolving gales. Vessels from Bermuda, bound to 

 New York, should put to sea when the N.W, wind, which is the conclusion 

 of a passing gale, is becoming moderate, and the barometer is rising to its 

 usual level. The probability is, more particularly in the winter season, 

 that after a short calm the next succeeding wind will be easterly, the first 

 part of a fresh revolving wind coming up from the S.W. quarter. 



A ship at Bermuda, bound to New York or the Chesapeake, might sail 

 whilst tlie wind is still West and blowing hard, providing the barometer in- 

 dicates that this West wind is owing to a revolving gale, which will veer to 

 the northward. But as the usual track which gales follow in this hemi- 

 sphere is northerly or north-easterly, such a ship should be steered to the 

 southward. As the wind at West veers towards N. W. and North, the vessel 



