Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 525

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On the 30th we have the following barometer readings Shanghai 30.05, Hongkong 29.90, Heihɔw 29.91, Bolinao 29.73, Manila 29.76. Winds were light breezes from ESE and SE at the two latter stations while at sea in 20", 115, (bar. 29.90) moderate N and NE winds prevailed. The S.S. Shantung in 17° 18′, 118° 44′, had 29.74, NE 4 with clouded sky. At Cape St. James light and gentle SW breezes were blowing, the weather being squally with thunderstorms. The low pressure seems to have been central in perhaps 14, 118° and moving towards NW.

On the 31st we have: Hongkong 29.92 ENE 3 od, Hoihow 29.91 NE 3 c, Bolinao 29.79 SSE 3 c, Manila 29.80 var. 2 c, Cape St. James SW 3 c. The barometer had risen at Bolinao and Manila but was practically steady at the other stations. The centre of the depression may have been situated in about 16, 116° at noon. The S. S. Shantung, to the northward of this position and in 20° 00′, 118° 03', experienced a moderate NE by E gale with light rain and high confused sca. The barometer, which read 29.73 at noon, was rising. To the westward of the centre the S. S. Namyong in 14° 48′, 110° 25′ had the barometer (29.86) falling and a strong NW increasing breeze accompanied, in the evening, by hard rainsqualls and a confused sea,

Next day, November 1st, the latter vessel had very bad weather throughout, the centre of the disturbance, which was at noon situated in about 16° 111, passing a few miles to the N of her position at 6 p. moving in a W or WSW direction towards the S cutrance to the Gulf of Tongking. They experienced a strong to whole gale from WNW at 4 a. (bar. 29.70) backing to SW by S at 6 p., the barometer attaining its lowest point, 29.50, at the latter hour. The strongest wind, of force 11 from WSW, was experienced between 3 p. and 4 P. but after 6 p. the wind decreased to a moderate brecze backing to SSE and E and a fine night followed with clear sky. They tried to run to the Southward at 5 a. with the wind at W but could not on account of the heavy sea, and owing to the proximity of the Paracel Reefs they were prevented from going to the Eastward. The steam-ships Ask and 'Hongkong, off Hainan Head and about 200 miles to the N of the centre, had strong NE breezes with rising barometer, and the S.S. Rohilla moderate SW breezes (bar. 29.76) at about 300 miles distance to the S of the centre.

On the 2nd at 10.30 a. tang Channel." At 11.10 a. Strong winds and gales from and Hainan."

NOVEMBER.

Red drum hoisted. "A typhoon appears to be situated near the Baling- Forecast :-"strong N winds, perhaps a gale; clondy and squally. N and NE probable generally along the China Coast between Shanghai

On the 3rd at 10.30 a. Red drum lowered. At 11.5 a. N breezes cloudy and squally."

On the 4th at 11.10 a.

Forecast:-"barometer rising: strong

Forecast:-"barometer rising strong to fresh N breezes, squally: fair.

Heavy monsoon in the China Sea.”

On the 1st November pressure was slightly above the normal at Shanghai, 30.19, and in defect to the extent of between 0.1 and 0.15 inch at Hongkong, 29.91, and at Manila, 29.76. Pressure had not recovered at the two latter stations in rear of the late typhoon which still existed on this day to the S of Hainan. At Manila the barometer fell somewhat during the afternoon a moderate WSW breeze prevailing, while at Bolinao a light breeze blew from NW. Fresh breezes froin NE and E were blowing on the China Coast between Hongkong and Amoy. These observations afford some indications of the existence of a new disturbance which appears to have been situated to the E of N

Luzon.

On the 2nd November the following conditions prevailed. At Shanghai 30.34, and at Pakhoi (Gulf of Tongking), 30.14, the barometer had risen rapidly. At Hongkong, 30.00, the increase of pressure was also considerable, but at Amoy, 29.94, there was no change. At Bolinao, 29.79, and at Manila, 29.86, the barometer had risen. In Japau pressure varied from 39.15 at Nagasaki to 30.04 at Tokio. Strong winds and gales from N to NE blew generally on the China Coast. At Amoy and Swatow the direction backed from NE in the morning to N in the afternoon. At Gap Rock, Hongkong, a moderate to fresh gale blew from NNW, at Bolinao a light breeze from SE and S, and at Manila a moderate SW breeze in the morning and a light SE breeze in the afternoon. At sca we have the following observations at noon on the 2nd :-The S.S. Chittagong situated in 20° 15', 123° 00′, 30.09 NE 9 or; S.S. Michael Jebsen 23° 39′, 117° 56′ 29 91 NNE 9 o; SS. Sungkiang 19° 04′, 116° 48′ 29.71 NW 7 op; S.S. Yuensang 15° 01′, 119° 58′ 29.87 SW 4 oq; Bk. Torrisdale 13° 56′ 133° 01′ 29.94 NE 5; S.S. Guthrie 8° 51', 121° 51′ 29.88 WNW 3 orq. These observations together with those made at the Coast Stations show that an area of low pressure was situated in the neighbourhood of the Balingtang Channel and the centre may be placed, approximately, in the position 20", 120° at noon. The S.S. Yuensang had been steering S by E from her noon position (19° 12′, 118" 58′) of the previous day. The barometer fell to 29.70 at 4 a. on the second, the wind of force 1 to 5, backing from E by N on the afternoon of the 1st to N at midnight, to W at 4 a. on the 2nd and thence to SW. These observations indicate that the vessel had passed to the W of a cyclonic disturbance between the evening of the 1st and morning of the 2nd. On board the Sungkiang, to the W of the centre and steering for Hongkong, the barometer was at its lowest point at noon and thereafter it rose rapidly, and they had a strong gale from NNW during the evening. To the NW of the centre the

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