On the Winds of the Western Coast of the U. States. 55 
_ From this table the diagrams representing the quantities for 
each month from each direction (figs. Nos en, 
and also those showing the total annual quantities of wind from 
each direction, and the total quantity of wind from all directions 
for each month (figs. Nos. 16 and 17). 
It seems to me altogether probable from the study of the fig- 
ures of these tables, that the scale adopted by the observer at 
San Francisco is greater than that at the two other points. . 
total quantities at Astoria, San Francisco and San Diego are as 
59, 87, and 60, and it is hardly probable that there is so large 
an excess of quantity at San Francisco. I have also the same 
Temark to make as on the observations at Cat Island, on the ab- 
Sence of observations upon the intermediate points between the 
cardinal ones, showing the tendency to designate the winds only 
by the cardinal points. 
From these diagrams we see at once the simple general regi- 
men of the winds on this coast. : 
1. The great prevalence of westerly winds, representing a 
flow of the air at the surface from the ocean in u 
2. The general absence of easterly winds, showing the absence 
of a return current at the surface. ce Te ge = 
The proportion of westerly to easterly winds is as 8 tol. 
8. The increase of westerly winds in the summer and their 
decrease in the winter. Ee 
Pg That when easterly winds blow at all, it is as a rule during 
€ winter. : 
_ 5. The N., N.E., and E. winds blow more frequently in the 
morning than in the afternoon hours. _ 
6. The S.E., S., and S.W. winds are in general pretty equally 
distributed over the morning and evening hours. 
7. The N.W. is the prevailing direction of the ordinary sea 
breeze at Astoria and San Diego, and the W. at San Francisco. 
Sometimes the W. wind has that character at the first named 
Stations and sometimes the S.W. wind at the last named. 
_ A closer inspection of the same diagrams will lead to other 
interesting results. 
