Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 527

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In the absence of more complete data it seems probable that a depression was in course of forina- tion in the trough-like area through which this vessel passed about mid-day.

On the 8th we have the following observations-Hongkong 30.03; Hoihow 30.08; Bolinao 29.83; Manila 29.86. The barometer had therefore fallen at these stations since the previous day. Light and moderate NE winds prevailed on the S const of China and light SE winds at Manila with rain. At sea, off the Annam coast in about 13° latitude, the barometer read about 29.95 and moderate gales from N and NW accompanied by wet squally weather prevailed. In 5, 106° the barometer stood at about 29.95 and several vessels had fine weather with moderate NW breezes in this locality. The S.S. Memnon, to the W of the S extremity of Palawan, had the barometer, 29.87, falling with a Inoderate SSW gale accompanied by continuous rain and hard squalls.

These observations show that winds were cyclonic round the China Sea and indicate that the area of low barometer was situated to the NW of Palawan and to the SW of Luzon and approximately in the position 182, 117° at noon on this day.

On the 9th we have the following observations :-Hongkong 29.98; Hoilow 30.02; Bolinao 29.80; Manila 29.82. The barometer had thus continued to fall slightly at these stations. Light and and moderate NE and N winds blew on the S. Const of China, light breezes from SE at Bolinao, and from NE to E at Manila. Off the Annam Coast in about 14° Latitude the barometer read 29.90 and fresh N to NNW gales prevailed. In about 7°, 108 moderate NW breezes blew with showery and squally weather, the barometer standing at about 29.90. The S.S. Memnon had a fresh SW brecze with the barometer reading 29.85 near the Balabac Channel.

The central area of the depression (XVII) seems to have been occupying much the same position as on the previous day, but the general decrease of pressure round the China Sea indicates that it was increasing in intensity.

On the 10th the following conditions prevailed :-Hongkong 30.03; Hoihow 30.03; Bolinao 29.82; Manila 29.86. These observations of the barometer show that pressure had increased slightly since the previous day on the S. Coast of China and in Luzon. It was below the normal to the extent of about 0.06 inch at Hongkong and 0.03 inch at Manila. Moderate NE monsoon blew on the S. Coast of China and moderate SE breezes at Bolinao. By aid of these and observations made ou board vessels at sea, the centre may be placed, approximately, in 14, 116° at noon. At a distance of about 350 miles to the N of this position the S.S. Michael Jebsen, in 19° 54′, 115° 27′, had the barometer, 29.93, falling and a moderate NE gale increasing and veering slightly as she steered towards SSE. A very high cross sea, from NE and SE, prevailed. To the WNW, at a distance of about 350 miles, the S.S. Sishan, in 15° 53', 110° 27', had 29.85 and a strong increasing breeze from N; the S.S. Agamemnon, in 16° 45', 111° 05′, at a distance of about 350 miles to the SW of the centre had the barometer, 29.87, falling and a WNW increasing gale with high confused sca; near the position 8°, 109o the barometer read about 29.97, the wind being a moderate breeze from NW to SW.

On the 11th pressure conditions on the S. Coast of China and in Luzon remained as on the previous day. The NE wind had, however, freshened a little on the S. Coast of China while the SE winds at Bolinao and Manila had become light. The centre of the depression must have been near the position 14, 115°. It was moving so slowly, at between 30 and 40 miles per day only, that the observations reveal but little difference in its situation from day to day, although a notion to some point of W is apparent on the whole. To the N by E of the above position at a distance of about 275 iniles, the S.S. Michael Jebsen, in 18" 19', 116" 43', had the barometer, 29.85, falling and the wind a strong gale from NE by E. The vessel was hove to during the afternoon, the wind increasing to storm force with a dangerously high sea; the S.S. Macher, at a distance of about 370 miles to `NW, and in 18° 27', 111" 17' steering towards NE, had the barometer, 30.01. rising and a fresh increasing gale from NE; the S.S. Agamemnon, about 150 miles to the WSW of the centre and in 12° 48′, 113° 14′, had the barometer, 29.70, falling with a strong WNW gale and high confused sea; in about 11o, 112 the barometer read 29.83 with fresh W breezes and in 8", 108° light WNW breezes prevailed with the barometer standing at 29.97.

On the 12th pressure had increased slightly on the S. Coast of China, while in Luzon no change, had taken place. Hongkong had 30.04, Hoihow 30.06, Bolinao 29.83 and Manila 29.86. Light SE winds still prevailed at the two latter stations. The centre may be placed in 14°, 115° on this day at noon. The S.S. Michael Jebsen, hove to at a distance of 250 miles to the NNE of this position, continued to have winds of storm force from NE by E. At noon the barometer read 29.86, but it was now rising and the wind force decreased a little towards evening. Off the SE coast of Hainan, at a distance of 350 miles to the NW of the centre, the barometer read 29.97 and strong NNE winds with showery and squally weather prevailed; the S.S. Agamemnon was now situated in 13° 43', 114° 02′ and at a distance of 75 miles to SW by W of the centre. They still had a strong WNW gale at noon and the barometer had fallen to 29.55. The vessel was kept on her course towards NNE and during the afternoon the wind veered to NW and decreased to a moderate gale, the barometer rising a little. This vessel might have been run to the SE with advantage as by keeping her course to the northward she was passing towards the storm track and into the right-hand semicircle, a particularly dangerous position in the NE monsoon. NW to W gales blew at a distance of from 150 to 250 miles to the W and SW of the centre, the barometer reading about 29.95 on the Annam coast in 13o Lat. ,110° 47′ the S.S. Albingra had 30.02 with a gentle NW breeze and fine weather.

In 9° 7',