DISTRICT OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND. 
155 
rent from that quarter flows freely up the valley without any intervening object to 
obstruct its progress ; so that an extraordinary prevalence of south-westerly winds 
might be expected to increase the amount of rain at Wastdale, and to diminish it in 
the other valleys ; and vice versa, with a long continuance of north-westerly winds. 
Troutbeck, which is similarly situated to Wastdale, has only received about 5 inches, 
or one-sixteenth less than the average quantity. 
The wet days at Wastdale are generally about sixteen more than at Seathwaite, 
the wettest of the stations ; but in 1849, they are forty-three in excess, and thirty-one 
more than have been recorded in any other part of the Lake District. 
This may be accounted for from the fact, that the mountains surrounding the Head 
of Wastdale are both the highest and the nearest to the sea ; their elevated peaks at- 
tract the clouds, and occasionally deprive them of the whole of their water ; and such 
appears to be more particularly the case in dry seasons and periods. Hence Wast- 
dale is visited with many showers which never reach the more inland valleys. The 
increase in the annual depth of rain from this cause is, however, very trifling. 
Gatesgarth, which usually obtains about one-fifth more rain than Wastdale, in 1849 
has received nearly 10 inches less ; and in the latter half of the exceedingly dry year 
1844, 1 find that the excess was also in favour of Wastdale. 
These abnormal results are evidently the effect of the position or bearing of the 
respective valleys in regard to the prevalent wind. Wastdale may be said to receive 
the south-west wind with open arms ; but, at Gatesgarth, it traverses the narrow valley 
and its mountain ridges nearly at right angles. 
The wettest days in 1849 were the 24th of January and the 24th of October ; on the 
former there fell 4’30 inches at Seathwaite, and on the latter 4‘37 inches at Wastdale 
Head. In four days, between the 22nd and 25th of October, the fall at Wastdale 
was 9'94 inches, and at Seathwaite 10'79 inches. 
The average depth of rain in the different valleys throughout the Lake District 
during the last five years, is as under: — 
inches. 
High Street, Whitehaven 45*52 
St. James’s Church Steeple, Whitehaven 32*84 
The Flosh, three miles south-east of Whitehaven . . . 52*38 
Cockermouth 46*53 
Bassenthwaite (three years) 43*83 
Keswick 60*67 
Gillerthwaite, Ennerdale 83*00 
Loweswater Lake 69*40 
Crummock Lake 86*90 
Gatesgarth 116*58 
Eskdale, middle of vale (two years) 64*88 
Eskdale, head of vale (two years) 79*00 
X 2 
