Gough, Kerguelen^ and South Georgia Islands. 471 



Below are given extracts from Mr. Comer's journal showing the 

 weather that was experienced at and near Gough Island. From 

 Aug. 1st to the 2 2d they were at sea in the immediate vicinity of 

 the island, waiting for a favorable opportunity to land. The rest of 

 the time, to Jan. 23d, Mr. Comer was on the island. It will be seen 

 that the weather was extremely unpleasant, with heavy gales, 

 strong winds and fog, rain, snow, and hail most of the time, and 

 some of the time very cold, one of the men being frozen to death in 

 crossing the mountain on Oct. 19th. 



Meteorological Record at and near Gough Island. 



Aug. 1, 1888, TO Jan. 23, 1889. 

 1888. 



Aug. 1. Fresh breezes through the night and increasing to-day to a fresh gale. 



Hove to at 2 p. m., as we are close to the island. The wind is N.^3'.E. 



and has been so all through the night. Lat. 39° 13' S. ; Long 10° W W. 



2. Moderate gale with rain squalls through the night. To-day the weather 



is better though still rough. Kept off at t A. m. Stood S.W. by S. 

 expecting to see the island, but find we are 60 miles east of it. Wind 

 W.N.W., quite cold. Lat. 40° 12' S. ; Long. 8° 20' W. 



3. Heavy rain squalls through the night from the north. To-day the weather 



is better, though still blowing fresh from W.N.W. Irregular sea. Are 

 under short sail. Lat. 41° 06' S. ; Long. 9° 12' W. 



4. Strong breeze with heavy rain squalls from N.W. through the night. 



This morning the wmd hauled to west and in the afternoon to S.W. 

 with snow squalls. To-night think we are about 25 miles south of the 

 island. Heavy S.W. swell. 



5. Snow squalls through the night. Wind S.W. This morning saw the 



land. Have had heavy squalls all day with snow and hail. The island 

 is now about 15 miles off, W.S.W. 



6. Heavy snow squalls through the night from S.W. To-day more moderate 



but still squally. Irregular sea. The island is in sight bearing S. by 

 W. Lat. 39° 43' S. ; Long. 9° 50' W. 



7. Lay to on the port tack during the night, wind gradually moderating. 



This morning kept off on the starboard tack, south wind increasing. 

 Got to the island at 4 p. m. Blowing fresh, wind west. Are now lay 

 to, close to the east side of the island. 



8. The wind increased to a strong gale during the night, but to-day has mod- 



erated some and hauled from N.W. to S.W. Rough sea. Cannot see 

 the island. 



9. Fresh squalls through the night, though moderating towards morning. 



To-day the weather has been improving with but few light rain squalls. 

 Wind S.W. The island is in sight, about 25 miles off at night, bearing 

 south. Lat. 39° 45' S.; Long. 9° 27' W. 

 10. The wind increased to a strong gale towards morning with thick raiu 

 from the N.W. The wind has moderated some to-day and the weather 

 cleared up. Cannot see the island. Rough sea. Lat. 39° 53' S. ; Long. 

 9° 31' W. 



