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SWITZERLAND ILLUSTRATED.
boatmen call Blatliser, or north wind, which, descending from the mountains’crest, acts with peculiar violence upon the lake, and produces that short irregularswell, which is often attended with considerable danger—for, if overtaken by asudden storm, there are very few spots on the south side, and on the north sidenone whatever, except at the village of Quentin, where a landing can be effected.It is, therefore, owing to the scantiness of its harbours, rather than to the severityof the storms, that the navigation of this lake is considered dangerous. Theboatmen, however, are perfectly “ weather-wise,” and rarely miscalculate theatmospheric transitions. They are also under excellent regulations, and becomesubject to severe penalties upon the least infringement of the established rules;these are, to ply close in upon the south side when the weather is doubtful, sothat, if necessary, they may pull ashore ; never to put out during a storm ; andto provide themselves with new boats every three years. By these cautionaryenactments, accidents on the lake are very rare. Amidst the inaccessible cleftsof the rocks which enclose this lake, the lammergheyer, to which we have alreadyalluded, hatches her brood for future depredation upon the kids of Glaris andAppenzell .
During the long period that the Venetians monopolized the trade with theLevant, this route was exceedingly frequented, and the mere transport of mer-chandise from Wallenstadt to Wesen employed nearly the whole male population.A great number of boats are still kept afloat for the same purpose; and theinterchange of manufactures between Italy, Germany, and the north of Switzer-land , is a source of very considerable profit to the inhabitants. Convenientwarehouses have been built for the reception of goods at either extremity of thelake ; and the scenes of embarking and disembarking, with the various methodsof land carriage, are full of bustle and animation. The navigation of the lake isunder the inspection of an officer expressly appointed for that purpose, andelected by the joint authority of Glaris and St. Gall .