[Moonman62]

OK, but they say the measurement was made before landfall. Was the barometer on a buoy, or what?

[txhurl]

http://bermudasun.bm/Content/HURRICANE-WATCH/Hurricane-Watch/Article/Using-shark-oil-to-keep-tabs-on-Igor/149/906/48088

....Although her barometer showed no change yesterday, Mrs. Chameau said the telltale signs would only reveal themselves as a hurricane came within 200 miles.

Google sharks oil barometer

[Charles Martel]

OK, but they say the measurement was made before landfall. Was the barometer on a buoy, or what?

That is possible. Maritime barometers are built to withstand a lot of abuse, even the shiny brass one on the wall of the captain's cabin.

There were spring-wound recording barometers back then, that printed out readings at certain time increments on a roll of paper. The Navy certainly could've put something like that in a buoy.

[thackney]

Ships? UnfortunTe ships?

Or perhaps that was the measurement on land while the eye was still offshore?