Major Lachlan on the Rise and Fall of the Lakes. 175 
at page 133 of the Ist volume of ‘Talbot’s Canada, as not only 
bearing on the now generally admitted influence of prevailing 
winds on the temporary fluctuations in the level of the Lakes, 
but also as adverting to the almost equally demonstrable fact, that 
the singular severity of our Canadian winters, and more particu- 
larly those of Lower Canada, compared with European countries 
in the same parallels of latitude, is altogether uninfluenced by the 
vast extent of our Lakes ; on which subjects the author referred 
to, quoting an American author, states as follows :— 
“Professor Dwight has proved that the height of the river 
(Niagara) both above and below the Falls, depends on the quar- 
ter from which the wind blows. Lake Erie, he says, is regularly 
raised at the eastern end, where the Fall commences, by ever 
wind blowing between northwest and southwest. A strong west- 
erly wind elevates its surface six feet above its ordinary level. 
The rivers must, of course, be proportionally elevated ; and at 
the outlet must, when such a wind blows, be six feet higher than 
the usual water mark. * * On the contrary, when the wind 
blows from the northeast (the only easterly wind which in this 
Tegion is of any importance), the waters of Lake Erie must re- 
cede of course, and fall considerably below their usual level, and 
the river be necessarily lower than at any other time.” 
The same author, in another part of his work (pp. 339 to 342), 
femarks as follows, with regard to the climate of Canada differing 
from that of European countries in a similar latitude : 
Winds, and the amazing extent of the Lakes, ‘lhat the severity 
of the weather in Winter cannot with any propriety be attributed 
who reflects that the shores of those great inland seas enjoy a 
‘ame parallels of latitude, however remotely situated from them. 
Fruit trees thrive well and bring their fruits to great perfection 
ong the northwest extremity of Lake Ontario, in lat. 43 deg. 
30 min., and along the north shore of Lake Erie; and yet at 35 
miles from the latter place, and in lat. 42 deg. 20 min., this fruit 
cannot be cultivated; and I have also seen snow three feet in 
depth a degree south of Lake Ontario, while at the same time it 
did hot exceed six inches in the immediate vicinity of that 
Lake.** 
(To be continued.) 
= : , ' stablishment of a system 
of meterlogieal cbar ny We ce ts foot of page 293 i gees 
