The New York herald., 1877-12-28
"NoRTHERs" AND "EAsTERs."

WAsHINGr0S, Dec ~ 1871
The following indications regard 10 the approach
and duration OF "northers and OF southeasters' in
tho Gulf Of Mexico have been dednced by Lieutenant
r. D. Hitchcock, United States Navy, Assistant Coast
Survey, commanding steamer Gedney, from observa-
tions made by himself in the vicinity OF Pensacola
Fla, during the season Of 1850 extending from Do
cember to April, and tnat OF 1851 extending from
November TO July. By PERMISSION of General Myez
Chief Signal officer United States Army, cxumina-
tiou was made by lieutenant Il. E. Nichols United
States Navy Assistant Coast Survey, OF the records
the signal observers at So. Marks, Fla, and Mobile,
Ala, during tho period, and the observations OF
Lieutenant Hitchcock were confirmed by the cxperi-
cnces ut those two points,
NoKTngRs
When for several days, during the periods OF obser
vaton hight winds from The southwark and eastward
TO the southward and westward, with calms had pre-
vailed, the following indications showed the approach
OF a norther Heavy detached black clouds 10 the
nOrthward aud westward. Sometimes these clouds
noticed small patches all around the sky, just
head; by very heavy dews, with clear atmosphere;
by cobwebs IN the rigging. The norther" was al
ways preceded by squall OF wind, sometimes from
the southwark and westward. sometimes from the
northwArd and westward, but more generally from
south OF west, and thus squa was usually accompanied
by rain. From the strength of this squa could DC
estimated The strength oi the norhcr subsequently
II never observed TO blow narder The squal was
Immediately followed by the porther, accompanied
The norther usually lasted for IRON to three days.
although northcrs OF four days. duration were OBJ.
served
During the time that the blow continued the wind
sometimes varied IN its direction from north north
west decreasing strength from day TO day, but oc
cas0nally reshenng ut night. Tho barometer always
continued TO until II attained It's greatest height
when II remained steady, with cold weather and very
clear atmosphere The "northsr', would sometimes
blow itself entirely und bc followed by calm,
or having expended ts strength, the wind would haul
to the northward and eastward, in either case tho
bsrometer falling and the temperature rising. II
rarely happened that the wind backed tho south
ward. Alter blowing from the n0rthward and east-
ward the wind would continue to haul TO the cas-. ward
but with particular regularity, often continuing
from tns quarter TOR several days, accompanied by
cloudy and ofentlmes hazy weather, but seldom WIN
After continuing ior time IRON the mort Inward
eastward woulu make the round Of compass,
regularly TO east southeast, south and south
west, dying out occasionally 70 calm and then
spripging up again. II occurred IL was generally
alter the wind mad passed south OF east although
two OF rain were observed with a northeast
wind. Another norther would not follow until the
wind mado the regular round OF the compass, and
the time elapsng uncertain, but generally varied
IRON ono 10 three weeks In case the regular round
Of winds was broken unsettled weather followed until
the round was again established The northers were
always accompanied by very low tides
SoUTIEASTERS
The southeast gales, which wcro the heaviest cx.
perenccd, occurred at rare intervals during the win
ter, the most severe part Of them being OF bu. short
duration. They did not come with every round OF the
winds between the northers; but, coming. they
dropped into the same round and did not break the
IeruLA~Ious'ho. "tu Tue approuCn VI u soutnchSter
wind would begin freshen cast ortheast and
continue 10 gam in iorcc, accompanied by falling
barometer and rising temperature II hauled the
southwark and eastward. As II passed east tho bar
omcicr would fall very rapidly, reaching It's lowest
limit when the wind had gained It's greatest force
southeast, just at the point OF hauling to
the southward, during which time a sue
ccssion OF very heavy squalls would occur. Alter
the squalls commenced the blow would last Tor
a very short tlme lew hours mt the most, inc wind
hauling rapidly 10 the sou,hward, aud then 10 tho
30 outh ward aud westward accompanied by rain squalls
These RAIN squalls were always sure sign that tho
force oil the blow about expenicd aud wcrc fol-
lowed by clearing weather, accompanied BY rising
barometer and falling temperature, and sometimes by
a norincr
Vessels drawing twenty-ono feoi, bound across tho
bar at Pensacola Fla, cannot cross during or Just
after . .norther" account OF the low water, or
during southcaster on account OF the heavy sea on
Nbe bar
In general bound out TO the south ward will
the best weather by leaving just at the beginning OF
"norther,p or on top Of 'northcr,o as the pilots
express H.
CARLlLE r. PATTERSON. Superintendent
COAST SURVEY OFFICE, Washington, d. q.