SURVEYING STEAMER FATHOMER IN MANILA BAY.(Frontispiece)

NAUTICAL CHARTS

BY

G. R. PUTNAM, M.S.

MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
DIRECTOR OF COAST SURVEYS, PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS, 1900 TO 1906

FIRST EDITION
FIRST THOUSAND

NEW YORK
JOHN WILEY & SONS
London: CHAPMAN & HALL, Limited
1908

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Copyright, 1908,
by
G. R. PUTNAM

Stanhope Press

F. H. GILSON COMPANY
BOSTON, U.S.A.

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PREFACE

In preparing the material for a lecture on Charts forColumbia University, the writer was impressed with thefact that although nautical charts are mentioned or discussedin many publications, there was not found any onewhich covered the general subject of their origin, construction,and use. In the countries of the world morethan a million copies of such charts are now issuedannually. A considerable portion of the human race isinterested directly or indirectly, whether as marinersor passengers or shippers, in navigation upon the sea.Aside from supplying a handbook for those who mighthave a general interest in the subject, it was thoughtthat a discussion of charts might lead to further considerationof the principles governing their construction.

This paper has intentionally been made as non-technicalas seemed feasible in treating a somewhattechnical subject. The writer is indebted to the Coastand Geodetic Survey for various illustrative materialfrom its archives, and to a number of authors for factsor suggestions. A list is appended of books and paperswhich have been freely consulted, bearing on this andrelated subjects.

G. R. P.

Washington, D.C., May 24, 1908.

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