SAILING DIRECTIONS AND NAUTICAL REMARKS. 39] 



WINDS AND WEATHER. 



The southwest monsoon sweeps over the Lew Chew group, and reaches the southern shores 

 of Japan and the Bonin Islands. 



At Napha, Lew Chew, we found it prevailing steadily in May and June, and veering to the 

 southward and eastward in July. In August, the wind was very changeable, and blew at 

 times quite strong, with squally, rainy weather. 



The northeast monsoon set in about the 1st of September, and continued until the departure 

 of the squadron, on the 7th of February, being, however, interrupted during the winter months 

 by fresh gales from the northward and westward, which were generally accompanied with 

 heavy rain. 



At the Bonin Islands, in April, the wind was variable ; in June it was from the southward 

 and westward ; and in October, from the northward and eastward. The passage from Lew 

 Chew to these islands, in October, was found to be exceedingly boisterous by the United States 

 ship Plymouth. 



On the coast of Japan, northerly winds were most prevalent in February, March, and April, 

 and during this period we had occasionally strong gales, which most frequently commence at 

 southwest, hauling to the northward and westward, and were accompanied with heavy rain. In 

 May and July we had southwesterly winds, and in June they were variable. 



During our stay in Japan, from February to June, the weather was generally pleasant. In 

 the Bay of Yedo, the mean temperature for February was 44° Fahrenheit, and the apricot and 

 camelia japonica were in full bloom. 



Typhoons. — The whole region from Formosa to the Bonins is within the track of these storms ; 

 though we believe they seldom reach the coast of Japan. The season during which they may 

 be expected is from May to November, inclusive ; but in the neighborhood of the Bonins they 

 seem to occur more frequently in October. (For further information on this subject, see the 

 able article of the late Wm. C. Redfield, contained in this volume.) 



Fogs. — We had but few fogs on the coast of Japan. They commenced at Hakodadi about the 

 1st of June, but did not extend as far south as Simoda. 



CURRENTS. 



The general drift of the current from Formosa to Japan, and along the eastern coast of the 

 latter, is to the northward and eastward. From the south point of Formosa to the Straits of 

 Sangar, we found its average strength to be 35 or 40 miles per day ; it is, however, very much 

 influenced, both in direction and velocity, by local causes. (See in this volume the article upon 

 the Kuro-siwo, or Japanese stream, by Lieutenant S. Bent, United States Navy.) 



WM. L. MAURY, Lieutenant United Stales Navy. 



SILAS BENT, Lieutenant United States Navy. 



