Page 751 the smooth sheet 794 



The title of the hydrographic survey must not be penciled or inked on the smooth 

 sheet by the field party. This is accomplished in the Washington Office. However, 

 the information necessary for the title is reported on Form 537, Hydrographic Title 

 Sheet (see 8412). 



794. Final Inspection 



After completion of the smooth sheet the plotter should inspect the entire work 

 thoroughly to make sure there are no errors, omissions, or discrepancies, and that the 

 style and appearance conform to the standards prescribed in chapter 7. He should 

 also assure himself that all temporary notes have been removed (see 7915) and that the 

 initials of the plotter and verifier have been appropriately entered on the smooth sheet 

 and in the Sounding Records in the stamps provided for that purpose (see 7916). 



If the hydrographer who was in actual charge of the field operations can do so, he 

 shall inspect the smooth sheet and make a thorough comparison with the boat sheet, to 

 assure himself that the smooth sheet is complete and accurate, and that it delineates 

 clearly the results of his field survey. Because of his intimate knowledge of the area, 

 it is always possible that his inspection may disclose an erroneous interpretation made 

 by the plotter. This is particularly true in the case of rocks, shoals, breakers, and 

 so forth, for which the information in the Sounding Records is sometimes inadequate 

 or ambiguous. 



7941. Final Inspection by Chief of Parly 



After the completion of the smooth sheet, and before it is transmitted to the Wash- 

 ington Office, the Chief of Party shall inspect the sheet and all of the records. He shall 

 also furnish on a separate sheet of paper as part of the Descriptive Report a statement 

 to the eft'ect that the sheet and accompanying records have been inspected by him, and 

 are approved. (See 8437.) 



795. Principal Deficiencies of Smooth Sheets 



In the past, hydrographic smooth sheets received in the Washington Office, have 

 occasionally been found deficient in various respects, and to assist in eliminating these 

 in the future a list of principal deficiencies is furnished herewith. This is not intended 

 as a complete list of all of the deficiencies, but it does contain those which cause most 

 trouble during the verification and review, 



(a) Positions have been incorrectly plotted due to the use of a protractor out of adjustment. 

 (6) Incorrect spacing of soundings; omission of soundings from a failure to utilize properly the 

 space available; insertion of soundings not recorded in the Sounding Record. 



(c) Omission of too large a percentage of the recorded bottom characteristics. 



(d) Excessive size or careless lettering of position numbers and day letters; very infrequently 

 making their size too small; careless placing of them. 



(e) Positions plotted with angles differing from those in the Sounding Record with no correction or 

 note having been made in the Record. 



(/) Certain notes in the Sounding Records have been ignored. 



(g) Soundings penciled in a straight line between positions where the vessel followed a curved 

 path. 



{h) Limits and numbers of adjoining sheets shown in ink (these should be omitted entirely). 



(i) Geographic names inked (these should be left in pencil). 



(j) Failure to check and investigate depths which appear erroneous, or excessive differences at 

 crossings. 



