220 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
which caused him to be permanently lame. He became in- 
terested during his cruise with the Vincennes and on subsequent 
voyages in studying the winds and other phenomena of the ocean. 
Rendered incapacitated for active service by the accident which 
he encountered, he was placed in charge of the Depot of Charts 
and Instruments, in the Navy Department. Out of this office 
a little later grew the Hydrographic Office and the United 
States Naval Observatory. Maury became the head of both 
these establishments. After it had become impossible for him 
to make meteorological observations himself he inaugurated a 
system of distributing specially prepared log-books to captains 
of vessels in which they might keep a daily record of winds and 
other phenomena of different parts of the ocean. 
The data thus obtained were intended to lighten the labors of 
navigators, and it was expected that by the study of them sailing 
captains would be enabled to determine upon the best course 
in different latitudes and would be informed regarding the 
character of the storms and winds which they might encounter. 
The data were published by the Government in a series of charts 
and books which are described as follows in the report of the 
committee: 
“The publications submitted to the committee consist of seventy-six charts of 
large dimensions, measuring generally twenty-four inches by thirty-five or 
six within the borders, and classified into six distinct series, distinguished by the 
letters 4 to F. These classes are entitled severally, ‘ Track Charts,’ ‘ Trade 
Wind Charts,’ ‘ Pilot Charts,’ ‘Thermal Charts,’ ‘Storm and Rain Charts,’ 
and ‘Whale Charts.’ Besides these there are two thick quarto volumes of 
letter press, embracing pp. xxxxi, 383, and viii, 874, respectively. The first of 
these volumes is illustrated by sixty-three engraved plates, some of them colored, 
and the second by six. Supplementary to these are three thin tracts, also in 
quarto, entitled, ‘ Nautical Monographs,’ and embracing in all pp. 48 and five 
plates.” 7° 
In addition, Maury, as is well known, published a treatise 
entitled “ The Physical Geography of the Sea,” and several other 
works. The publication of the meteorological data led to the 
organization of an international congress in 1853, and later, when 
» Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1863, p. 98. 
