Page 797 . records and reports 852 



one project is in continuous progress and not completed on December 31, the semi- 

 annual report is not required. 



852. Navigational Information 



All persons in the service of the Coast and Geodetic Survey should report to the 

 Washington Office all valuable information obtained affecting the interests of naviga- 

 tion along the coasts. Special reports should be made promptly of any information 

 of the following classes (giving in each case the authority and such recommendations 

 as may seem desirable): rocks, reefs, shoals, or sunken wrecks (with the least depths 

 on them), either not charted or incorrectly charted; important errors or omissions on 

 the charts or in Coast Pilots; changes in depths or directions of channels; and changes 

 in coastline, currents, etc. (See also section 17.) 



8521. Chart Letters 



Miscellaneous information submitted by a field party and others for use in chart- 

 ing is filed in a "Chart Letter File" in the Nautical Chart Branch, and each communica- 

 tion is known as a chart letter and is given a consecutive number within the calendar 

 year. Practically every communication of this kind is so filed. 



Persons submitting ^uch information should bear in mind the ultimate use of the 

 data and submit them in a form convenient for this pm^pose. Letters should not be 

 accompanied by enclosures of awkward size on which information has been noted in a 

 way which prevents the enclosure from being cut into letter-size sections. Sketches 

 should be on letter-size paper or be folded to this size; sections of charts, likewise, should 

 be cut to letter size and if more than one chart-section is required to cover the area, the 

 cutting should be done before any notations or other data are entered on them, to 

 ensure that the entire notation appears on the section to which it refers. 



8522. Dangers to Navigation 



All dangers and wrecks discovered that are considered to be menaces to navi- 

 gation shall be reported immediately by radio, telephone, or telegraph to the Com- 

 mander of the nearest United States Coast Guard District and to the District Super- 

 visor, and a copy of the notifying- message shall be forwarded to the Washington Office. 

 The message shall be in the following form: "(object) covered by (depth of water) at 



(datum) discovered; distant nautical miles or yards, bearing degrees 



true, from (charted object)." 



A tracing from the boat sheet or chart showing the exact location of the danger 

 discovered should be forwarded to the Washington Office at the earliest opportunity. 

 A statement shall be included in the Descriptive Report mentioning each danger 

 reported to the Coast Guard, so that such information will not be duplicated. 



Floating wreckage, logs, derelicts, or other floating objects sighted which are 

 menaces to navigation shall be promptly reported by radio, telephone, or telegraph to 

 the Commander of the nearest Coast Guard District and a copy of this notification 

 shall be forwarded to the Washington Office (see 365). 



8523. Erroneous Charted Data 



Charts of the most recent print date and Coast Pilots of the area being surveyed 

 should be examined carefully by the Chief of Party. Should any information of iin- 



