19
JUNE.
407
On the 4th and 5th June, 1892, the barometer was falling generally on the China Coast and in Luzon and light to moderate SW winds were prevalent. On the 6th a recovery of pressure took place along the China Coast particularly in the North and the wind became chiefly NE light to strong breezes. Two vessels in the neighbourhood of the northern entrance of the Formosa Channel reported fresh NE gales. The weather was chiefly overcast on the South Coast with light rain at most stations and tem- perature had decreased. At Hongkong there had been a slight thunderstorm during the early morning hours. Vessels in the northern part of the China Sea had light variable winds and steady barometer. Farther South the S. S. Chingtu had a falling barometer and light SE breezes. The S. S. Ingraban had light variable airs, squally weather and swell. The S. S. Memnon still farther South had a steady barometer, fresh SW breeze and squally weather. At Cape St. James there was a strong SW breeze, squally weather and a swell.
The following are some of the observations for the 6th June at noon:-
COAST STATIONS,
Bolinao, ........................................................29.77 .03
SSW
South Cape,
.81 + .01
NE
Hoihow,
.74 .01
ENE
Hongkong,
.78 + .03
E
Breaker Point,
.80 + .03
NE
Lamocks,
.82 + .05
NE
Chapel Island,
.85 + .09
N
Turnabout,
Steep Island,
.88 + .04 .96 + .11
NNE
NE
NAGO 10 10 10 10 00
c.
c.
0.
0.
op. od.
C.
op.
C.
VESSELS.
S.S. Memnon, S.S. Chingtu,
S.S. Ingraban,
.12° 18'
117° 09′
29.78
SW
15 51 118 40
.67 ?
SE
..16 02 110 13
.73
Var.
S.S. Rio,
..19 56 112 33
.77
$
S.S. Alwine,
..20 03 110 20
Var
S.S. Choy Sang...
at Matsou
.84
NNE
Sch. Sea Swallow, .....................................
.24 40 118 56.
83
NE
10 como con
C.
2
q.
swell.
2
8 or.
It appears, therefore, that there was an area of deficient pressure across the China Sea, perhaps between the parallels of 14° and 18° N where the barometer was falling and light variable winds pre- vailed. On the Northern side of this area NE light to strong breezes were blowing and on the Southern side fresh SW breezes. Probably a disturbance was forming at this time.
Towards evening on the SE coast, the barometer commenced to fall, the weather was wet generally and fresh NE breezes continued. At Hoihow there were heavy NE squalls with thunder and lightning. At Hongkong heavy rain was falling, the lower clouds coming from East. North of Foochow it was dry, but cloudy.
On the 7th June the barometer was still falling slowly on the SE coast and much the same wind and weather prevailed as on the previous evening except that the rain was less heavy. The barometer was also falling in Luzon with light S breezes and cloudy weather. At Cape St. James there was a strong SW breeze. Those vessels in the neighbourhood of Hainan were experiencing N to NE moderate gales with rain squalls and high sea. The S. S. Rio farther South had SW to NW moderate breezes and showery weather.
Conditions were almost unchanged during the latter part of the day. Observations at noon on the 7th June:-
COAST STATIONS.
Bolinao, South Cape,
29.73
.04
S
C.
.75 .00
NNE
C.
Hoihow,
.68 ,06
NNE
C.
Hongkong,
.74
.04
E
0.
Breaker Point,
.77
.03
NE
op.
Lamocks,
**
-
.05
NNE
5
om.
Chapel Island,
.80
.05
NE
4.
od.
Turnabout, Steep Island,
.86 .02
N
od.
.96 00
E
c.
VESSELS.
S.S. Nizam,
7° 32′ 108° 20'
29.82
SSW
2
r.
S.S. Memnon,
9 07 116 58
.74
SW
cross sea.
S.S. Presto, S.S. Ingraban, S.S. Alwine, S.S. Rio,
17 54 107 58
.71
N/W
6
or
3225
high sea.
19 14 112 05
.68
NNE
20 21 110 55
.62
NE
४
....
16 01 110 28
.65
W
op.