1843.] Colonel Reid on Winds. 1 105 



York, the chance of reaching that port would be the same as that of 

 coasting vessels in their voyage from the Carolinas. 



But should a dry easterly wind set in, and the barometer maintain 

 its mean height, or rise above it, the case would be altogether dif- 

 ferent; for these would be indications of a steady wind, and not of 

 a revolving gale. The ship may then be steered direct for the intend- 

 ed port ; and this shews that the hygrometer might prove a useful 

 instrument at sea, though not hitherto used that I am aware of, in 

 aid of navigation. 



Since vessels sailing from Bermuda and bound to New York, or 

 the Chesapeake, must necessarily cross the Gulf Stream, they will have 

 an advantage in doing so before that stream begins to set strongly to 

 the eastward. For this reason, as well as to have a better chance of 

 getting to the westward, it would seem advisable on first leaving 

 Bermuda, to make no northing, but if the wind should at the time 

 blow, for example, from the north-west, to sail free upon the starboard 

 tack, and to keep on this tack, until the vessel be so far advanced 

 as to fall into the northerly current of the Gulf stream ; and this might 

 prove to be the best course to pursue, even should the ship for a time 

 make southing. The more southerly the port to be gained, as for 

 example, Baltimore, the more does it appear advisable that this should 

 be persevered in. The same principle of sailing for Boston and even 

 for Halifax, (though in a much less degree) might be found to be that 

 by which the most certain course would be secured. It may appear 

 unreasonable to propose, that a ship bound to a port to the northward, 

 should on leaving Bermuda, steer southerly — yet when we shall be 

 better acquainted with the causes of the variable winds, and their 

 changes, this may really not appear to be so unreasonable. 



For example, towards the end of a revolving gale passing over 

 Bermuda, the wind may still be west, and blowing hard. Since the 

 courses of such gales are northerly, a ship by steering north would only 

 continue the longer in the same westerly gale, whereas by steering 

 southerly, the ship and the storm would be moving in opposite direc- 

 tions, and the vessel would the sooner have the chance of falling into a 

 new variation of the wind. Sailing southerly, on the starboard tack, 

 the latter end of such revolving gales as the one supposed above, might 

 (as frequently happens) veer to west- north-west and even to north-west, 



