STATUTES OF AUTHORIZATION 
There shall be a hydrographic office attached to the Bureau of 
Navigation in the Navy Department for the improvement of the 
means for navigating safely the vessels of the Navy and of the mer- 
cantile marine by providing, under the authority of the Secretary of 
the Navy, accurate and cheap nautical charts, sailing directions, 
navigators, and manuals of instructions for the use of all vessels of 
the United States, and for the benefit and use of navigators generally. 
(R. S. 481.) 
The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to cause to be prepared, 
at the Hydrographic Office attached to the Bureau of Navigation in 
the Navy Department, maps, charts, and nautical books relating to 
and required in navigation, and to publish and furnish them to 
navigators at the cost of printing and paper, and to purchase the 
plates and copyrights of such existing maps, charts, navigators, sail- 
ing directions, and instructions as he may consider necessary, and 
when he may deem it expedient to do so, and under such regulations 
and instructions as he may prescribe. (R.S. 432.) 
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