On the Cyclones of the North Pacific Ocean. 23 



N,E. quarter, with increasing 



violence. Its greatest force was on the 21st, when it had veered 

 to the northward; the barometer 28"88 at 3 A. M., and 28-82 at 

 noon, with a slight reaction at evening. On the 22d, at 8 i\ M., 

 it had settled to"28*74, the lowest point reached; from which it 

 rose only to 28-83 at midnight, with improving weather. On 

 the 23d and 24:th the gale veered through east to S.E., and the 

 barometer continued to rise. On the 20th it reached to 29"80, 

 the ordinary height for July in that region, at which time the 

 wind had veered to south, and the force of the gale was no 

 longer felt. The fall and rise of the barometer here, as with 

 the other shins, was attended wit 



moder 



hours continuance, as is more or less common in other cyclones 

 of large extent. The gale was violent at Xapha, but not in the 

 greatest force of hurricanes. It was observed '' that even when 

 the wind was piping loudest — when the water was whirled vio- 

 lently by in perfect sheets— the scud moved overhead at a re- 

 markably slow rate, and the upper layer of clouds seemed 

 scarcely to be stirred at all ;" thus showing the yctj limited 

 height of this vast cyclone. Its axial center, in passing Loo 

 ChoOj was nearest to Napha at about noon of 22d, at an esti- 

 mated distance of about eighty miles. 



In tracing the further progress of the gale towards the coast 

 of China we are aided by the well kept log-book of the TJ. S. 

 storeship Caprice, under Lt. W. L. Maury, during her stormy 

 passage from Shanghai to Loo Choo. On the 17th of Jul}" the 

 Caprice left the Woosung Eiver and stood down the Yang-tsz 

 for sea, with bar. at 29'71, the highest during the passage, and 

 while anchored at night encountered a heavy ground swell from 

 S.E. On the 18th working out of the river with wind at S.E. ; 

 bar. 2967, and heavy swell continued. On the 20th the wind 

 veered from E,S.E. to N,E. by N,, increasing in strength, with 

 heavy swell from S.E. to E.S.E., lat 31^ S3', Ion, 123° 18' E.; 

 ship preparing for the gale. On the 21st, gale from N.E. by N., 

 veering to ]N\E.; lat, 29^30', Ion. 124^42'; bar. 2940. On 

 22d, gale from N. E. to E., increasing in force, with heavy sea; 

 bar. 29 25; ship hove to at 7 P. M. During the 23d and 24th 



great 



SO', Ion. 



124° 20^ E.), veering through east to S. B. The barometer 

 reached its minimum, 2916, from 1 to 3 P. M, of 24th. After 

 this period the gale was found to abate, during successive days, 

 but with considerable fluctuations of force, until the first day of 

 August, in lat. 28° 35', Ion. 125^ 09' K, when the wind, which 

 had now veered to the southward, became moderate, and the 

 barometer rose to 29 '69 inches. 



These phenomena, now presented in an abridged form, may 

 be regarded as of much scientific and practical interest. It does 



