314 APPENDIX. 



weather ; they increase graduall}% the weather changes, and at times 

 they end in a determined heavy gale. More frequently they rise to the 

 strength of a treble -reefed topsail breeze, then die away gradually, 

 or shift to another quarter. 



From the north the wind always begins to blow moderately, but 

 with thicker weather and more clouds than when from the eastward : 

 it is generally accompanied by small rain. Increasing in strength, it 

 draws to the westward gradually, and blows hard from between north 

 and north-west, with heavy clouds, thick weather, and much rain. 



When the fury of the north-wester is expended, which varies from 

 twelve to fifty hours, or even while it is blowing hard, the wind some- 

 times shifts suddenly into the south-west quarter, blowing harder 

 than before. This wind soon drives away the clouds, and in a few 

 hours causes cleai- weather, though perhaps with heavy squalls pass- 

 ing occasionally. 



In the south-west quarter the wind (generally speaking) hangs 

 several days, blowing strong, but moderating towards the end, and 

 admitting two or three days of fine weather. 



Northerly winds then usually begin again, during the summer 

 months ; but all manner of shifts and changes are experienced, from 

 north to south by the west, during that season ; which would hardly 

 deserve the name of summer, were not the days so much longer, and 

 the weather a Httle warmer. Rain and wind prevail during the long, 

 much more than in the short days. 



It should be remembered that bad weather never comes on sud- 

 denly from the eastward, neither does a south-west or southerly gale 

 shift suddenly to the northward. South-west and southerly winds 

 rise suddenly as well as violently, and must be well considered in 

 choosing anchorages, or preparing for shifts of wind at sea. 



The most usual weather in these regions is a fresh wind between 

 north-west and south-west, with a cloudy overcast sky. 



Much difference of opinion has prevailed as to the utHity of a 

 barometer in these latitudes. I may remark, that during some 

 years' careful trial of a barometer and sympiesometer (Adie's), I 

 found their indications of the utmost value. Their variations did not 

 of course correspond to those of middle latitudes, but they corres- 

 ponded to those of high northern latitudes in a remarkable manner, 

 (changing south for north, east and west remaining the same). 



Gales of wind from the southward, and squalls from the south- 



