FOREWORD 



The continuing necessity for naval and maritime operations throughout 

 the world has made it increasingly important to obtain accurate oceanographic 

 data of the various ocean areas. As our Nation's interest in the exploration of 

 the oceans has increased, there have been more and more demands for an up-to- 

 date instruction manual for obtaining oceanographic data. 



This edition, a revision of the old H.O. Pub. No. 607, "Instruction Manual 

 for Oceanographic Observations" (1955), has been prepared to meet this need. 

 It describes the methods, techniques, instruments, and log sheets used at sea by 

 Naval Oceanographic Office oceanogi-aphers. No claim is made for originality, 

 nor is it proposed that these methods become universal. 



This new publication. Pub. No. 607, "Instruction Manual for Obtaining 

 Oceanograpliic Data," has been designed to facilitate updating of the contents 

 by presenting a unique page-numbering system. It is intended that methods 

 and tecliniques will be added to or deleted from this manual as the state of the 

 art improves or as teclmiques become obsolete. Several additional chapters are 

 in preparation at this time and will be published in the near future. 



Your comments and suggestions concerning this instruction manual are 

 invited. 



L. E. DeCamp, 



Captain, U.S. Navy, 



Commander. 



