CYCLONES OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 359 



these quarters for some hours, they fly round to the northward, hy the west, with little, if any, 

 warning, and blow even harder than before. These changes show the observer to have been in 

 the right-hand quadrants of the gale, as most often will happen, and are but counterparts of 

 the changes met with in the cyclones encountered in the same latitudes in the North Atlantic. 



Having referred to the frequent occurrence, and the normal progression and rotation of the 

 cyclones throughout the temperate latitudes of the North Pacific ocean, as shown chiefly by the 

 single reports of various ships and voyagers, I will now only quote two or three notices of this 

 character which have lately came to hand. 



The schooner Eagle, from San Francisco for Monterey, encountered a severe gale from south- 

 east in about latitude 3*7° N., and was compelled to heave to — split the foresail, &c. The wind 

 then shifted to northwest, when she bore up, and reached San Francisco on the 1st of January, 

 1855. It will be seen that this vessel was on the center-path of the cyclone, as is shown by 

 the direction and change of the wind. . 



The ship Dalmatia, from Cape Ommany for San Francisco, on the 14th of December, 1854, 

 in latitude 55° N., longitude 139° W., encountered a violent hurricane, which commenced at 

 east, veered to south, and lasted forty-eight hours, carrying away main topgallant mast, yards, 

 and sails ; lost boat, cut-water, chain-bolts, round house, rail, bulwarks, and sustained other 

 damage. The variation here being between 20° and 30° E., the first severe wind of the gale 

 was about E.S.E., true meridian, indicating a position near the center-path of the cyclone. 

 But her course being south, the ship would soon pass into the right-hand quadrants of the gale, 

 and thus be headed off by the wind as it veered to the southward. 



On the first day of January, 1855, off Cape Mendocino, latitude 40° 30' N., the Dalmatia 

 experienced another gale from southeast to northwest, attended with a heavy cross sea. 



In reference to one of these cyclones,, the master of the Dalmatia states that he has never, 

 during an experience of thirty years, encountered so severe a gale. 



The schooner Page, from Japan for San Francisco, on the 18th of January, 1850, in latitude 

 45° 12' N., longitude 180° meridian, encountered a heavy gale from the southwest. On the 

 morning of the 19th the wind changed, and blew a hurricane from the west-southwest. At 6 

 p. M. scudding under bare poles. On the 20th, at 2 A. M., the Page was boarded by a tremen- 

 dous sea, which struck square aft and swept the decks, carrying with it the cabin gangway and 

 binnacle, galley, and store-room, the pump-brakes, boats, and bulwarks. 



Barque Kebekah, at San Francisco, April 1, from Batavia, experienced heavy weather during 

 the passage. March 15, (1856,) in latitude 37° N., longitude 160°, experienced a severe gale 

 from the southwest, and shipped a sea which washed away quarter-boat, stove longboat, head 

 knees, and bulwarks. During the last nine days of March had strong southeast gales — split 

 sails, &c. 



These imperfect notices of the cyclones which prevail in the North Pacific ocean are respect- 

 fully submitted for the consideration of the officers both of the naval service and mercantile 

 marine. If they shall contribute in any degree to the safety and success of our ships and com- 

 merce, it will be a grateful reward for the attention and labor which this important subject has 

 at any time required. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



WM. C. EEDFIELD. 



Commodore M. C. Perky, 



Commander- in-chief of the late U. S. Expedition to Japan. 



