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CHAPTER 9. MISCELLANEOUS 



91. COAST PILOT 



The Coast Pilots of the Coast and Geodetic Survey are a series of volumes con- 

 taining information of importance to the navigator which cannot be shown conveniently 

 on charts and is not readily available elsewhere. The information covers a wide variety 

 of subjects, among which are descriptions of the coasts, harbors, dangers, and land- 

 marks; and directions for entering harbors and for coastwise navigation. A new edition 

 of a Pilot is published about every 7 years, although the interval may vary from 5 to 

 ] 2 years depending on the importance of the region, the number of changes, and other 

 factors. Supplements, containing corrections, changes, and new information, are 

 published about once a year. 



911. Sources of Coast Pilot Information 



The information used in the preparation of Coast Pilots and Supplements comes 

 from many sources, the most important of which are: 



Files in the Coast Pilot Section, Washington Office. 



Field revision parties. 



Coast pilot reports from field parties. 



Chart Letters and other files in the Nautical Chart Branch, Washington Office. 



Survey sheets, Descriptive Reports, and files in the Map Hall, Washington Office. 



Nautical publications by other federal bureaus; and by State, port, and local authorities. 



912. Coast Pilot Reports From Field Parties 



Coast pilot reports from field parties are among the most important sources of 

 information. If properly prepared, they furnish a type of information, often unob- 

 tainable elsewhere, that is most needed, such as controlling depths; descriptions of 

 coasts and landfalls; strength of currents; and existence of tide rips and cross currents. 

 If such information is not included in the field party's report, an exhaustive and often 

 time-consuming examination of Descriptive Reports and survey sheets is required, 

 which does not always yield the best results. 



A mere revision of the published text of a Pilot is not all that is required, but 

 additional new information should be obtained that wOl enhance its value. This 

 applies to a surveyed as well as an imsurveyed area. 



Insofar as practicable, advantage should be taken of the transit of vessels be- 

 tween ports to check the applicable parts of the Coast Pilot. Errors and deficiencies 

 should be reported (see 175). 



Information of local origin relative to the area in which a field party is working 

 should be investigated and reported. Likewise, directions in an area being surveyed 

 should be verified by actually running the courses and sounding along them before 

 they are recommended and submitted to the Office (see 356). 



Information vital to the navigator should be reported at once and by radio, if 

 necessary. General notes, in duplicate, should be submitted at the end of the field 

 season, and should be clearly marked "Coast Pilot Report" (see 159 and 855). 



