WINDWARD ISLES AND THE GRENADINES 2f 



there is a sudden call for up-to-date charts of an area which has 

 been little surveyed: these eventualities must be foreseen and 

 thus the surveyor oftens finds himself working in a little known 

 part of the world which within a few years will have become a 

 busy development area. It is of no use to build a new commercial 

 harbour to handle oil, timber or even ground-nuts if the outer 

 approaches are found to have shoal water preventing the use of 

 the harbour by the deepest draught ships which can be expected 

 in the future. 



With these possibilities in mind and always with more surveys 

 to do than there are ships, the Hydrographer juggles on paper 

 until the programme for each ship for the forthcoming season is 

 decided. Hydrographic Instructions are then drawn up for each 

 Commanding Officer, the instructions being addressed to him 

 personally and covering the broad outlines of the surveys to be 

 carried out during the season, usually leaving all details of admin- 

 istration, such as fuelling and provisioning arrangements, and the 

 order in which the surveys are to be done, to the Commanding 

 Officer. He will make his own plans, suitable to the weather and 

 other local conditions prevalent in each area. 



It is interesting to compare the opening sentences of the 

 Hydrographic Instructions of a hundred years ago with those of 

 today. The following is an example of the language of the earlier 

 days: 



Strong representations having been made to H.M. Government of the 

 rapidly increasing traffic between our Australian Colonies and the western 

 Coast of America, and moreover of the inadequate knowledge we possess 

 of the intervening navigation amongst its insulated rocks and intricate clusters 

 of islands which extend to the eastward of New Caledonia, and considering 

 the great benefit that distant commerce and maritime enterprise would derive 

 from a thorough examination of that region, from having its dangers fully 

 explored, and from having its harbours so charted and described that the 

 Seaman could know where he would either obtain supplies or repair to for 

 refit or refuge, or endeavour to fix his whaling or his coaling stations. 



We have therefore thought proper to select you for the purpose of carrying 

 out these important objects and have appointed you to the command of 

 H.M. Ship Herald, and we have also placed H.M. steam tender Torch, com- 

 manded by Lieutenant William Chinnco, under your orders to act as your 

 consort and to pioneer you in doubtful ground and shallow waters — both 

 vessels being amply furnished with Stores, Instruments and comforts of every 

 kind. . . . (Orders for Captain H. N. Denham, R.N., 14th May, 1852.) 



