PASSAGES. 



00 



equator is approached, be found from the northward and light, it is 

 advisable to keep a good full, trusting without fear, as northing is 

 made, the wind will enable a vessel to come up to her proper course. 

 The only difficulty in this long navigation is to avoid the calms in the 

 North Atlantic, between the latitudes of 28° and 32° and the meri- 

 dians of 60° and 73°. The northeast trades will be held longer 

 to the west, and for this purpose a navigator ought not to be too 

 anxious to maintain an inflexible purpose of sailing on a Loxo- 

 dromic curve : a deviation to strike the Gulf Stream to the south of 

 Cape Hatteras, to take advantage of the winds which generally prevail 

 on our southern coast, is the best, and will insure the help of that 

 current. After getting into the Gulf Stream, the passage can only be 

 retarded by the local weather of our coast. In the spring and sum- 

 mer of the year southwest winds prevail ; in the winter, easterly as 

 well as northwesterly winds are prevalent : these ought to be consi- 

 dered by the navigator, when about to make the coast and shape a 

 course for his port of destination. 



