A  fine  northerly  or  northeasterly  wind  frequently  occurs  at  inter-
vals during  the  months  of  December,  January,  and  February ;  it  is
always  accompanied  by  a  high  barometer  (above  30.00),  and  at  such
times  a  continuance  for  several  days  together  of  clear,  cold,  frosty
weather  may  be  looked  for;  the  barometer  on  these  occasions  will
sometimes  rise  as  high  as  30.70,  and  the  fine  weather  will  then
probably  last  a  fortnight  or  more.
Winds  in  the  strait  of  Georgia. — ^The  prevailing  summer  wind
in  the  strait  of  Georgia  is  from  NW.,  or  the  same  as  on  the  outside
coast,  and  between  May  and  September  it  blows  strong  and  steady,
commencing  about  9  a.  m.  and  dying  away  toward  sunset.  These
winds  do  not  generally  extend  much  below  Roberts  point,  among
the  Haro  archipelago  they  become  variable  and  baffling,  while  in  the
main  channels  of  Rosario  and  Haro  the  westerly  wind  entering  the


36  GENERAL  REMARKS.
strait  of  Fuca  is  deflected  to  SW.,  and  vessels  running  up  these
channels  with  a  fair  wind  almost  always  find  it  ahead  on  entering
the  strait  of  Georgia.  During  winter  there  is  a  good  deal  of  mod-
erate, calm,  and  gloomy  weather,  but  gales  from  SE.  and  SW.  are
frequent.
Winds  on  the  coast  north  of  Vancouver  island. — ^The  pre-
vailing winds  during  the  summer  on  the  coast  northward  of  Van-
couver island  are  from  the  NW.,  preceded  during  the  earlier  summer
months  by  SW.  winds.
During  the  winter  months  SE.  and  SW.  winds  prevail.
Gales  from  the  SE.  prevail  at  all  seasons,  and  are  more  frequent
and  severe  than  those  experienced  on  the  coast  of  Vancouver  island.
