“The finest months in the Faröes are June and July, and in these months
only should the cable be laid, and then about the last quarter of the
moon, because the tides are greater at the full than at the change,
consequently the neap tides and immediately after the last quarter,
should be selected, as the currents are then inconsiderable. I have
already given my reasons for recommending that the cable be laid from
Iceland towards the Faröes, not only on account of the prevailing fogs
on the east coast of Iceland, but also from the greater facilities
for making the coast of the Faröes, and the opportunity that the
comparatively speaking shallow water off the N.W. coast would give of
shipping and buoying the cable in the event of a sudden gale of wind
occurring at the time of laying it. The finest months upon the east
coast of Iceland are also June and July, but I was informed that the
weather is clearer earlier in the season, in the months of May and
June--I suppose from the alternations of temperature being then less
frequent. A few hours, however, of clear weather would always carry
a ship beyond these mists, which usually hang only on the land. With
reference to Faxe Bay station, the west coast of Iceland is generally
free from fogs, and the gulf stream which sets round Cape Reikianess,
and appears to keep up a continuous flow around Faxe Bay to the
northward, passing out by Snœfellssness, also appears to considerably
affect the climatic condition of the west coast. Navigation is open
all the year round, and the operation of bringing the cable here can
be timed to the opportunities for departing from Greenland. A fine
pyramidal beacon has lately been erected on the Skagen, and is of great
assistance to navigators entering Faxe Bay from the southward.”