42 MANUAL OF CURRENT OBSERVATIONS 
of the line around the anchor cable. In planting, the relieving buoy was set out first; 
then the current buoy with meter was streamed; anchor cable payed out; and finally 
anchor was dropped as the ship was going astern away from the buoys. In recovering, 
the relieving and current buoys were kept on line while conning the vessel to pick up 
the relieving buoy. The relieving line was hauled directly over the bow and the 
anchor cable was secured temporarily just below the 15-fathom shackle. (See fig. 27) 
That section of the anchor cable secured to the meter was detached and held until the 
tackle of the boom was secured to the current buoy, which then was hauled aboard 
without any strain or difficulty. Use of the relieving buoy also provided a method of 
observing the surface direction of the current for checking the operation of the meter. 
Figure 27 shows the method of anchoring the radio current buoy with a relieving buoy. 
110. Detailed information relative to the use of the radio current meter and buoy 
is contained in the Radio Current Meter Operating Manual. 
Records 
111. Form 270. Record of Current Observations is a book especially designed for 
recording observations taken with the current pole and with the Price current meter. 
The form may also be adapted for observations taken with other types of meters. 
General information pertaining to the current station must be entered in the front 
part of the book. This includes a deviation table for the compass used in the work, 
and detailed information regarding the kind of time used, apparatus employed, and 
method of anchoring the vessel. A section of chart or a tracing on which the station 
is plotted should be pasted on the inside front cover at the beginning of the record. 
Reference objects used for angles and bearings must be sufficiently well described for 
identification. 
112. The information required for the heading of each page must be supplied. If 
the vessel is anchored so that it is free to swing, the position angles should be repeated 
from time to time and recorded with the time of measurement. Such entries may be 
placed in the column of remarks if there is insufficient space in the heading of the page. 
Entries made in the several columns must be in accord with the respective headings, 
the latter being revised if necessary to take account of any variation. The direction 
and velocity of the wind are to be entered in the columns provided. By common 
usage, direction of wind signifies the direction from which the wind is blowing, and this 
usage will be followed in recording wind direction. If an anemometer or other means 
of measuring the wind velocity is available, the fact should be noted with the general 
information at the beginning of the record. Otherwise the velocity of the wind is to 
be estimated in statute miles per hour. ‘To assist in this estimate the following scale 
is provided, the velocities indicated being statute miles per hour (m. p. h.). 
Velocity Velocity 
m. p. h. m. p. h. 
(@ slant Sa rye Ste Seat ea a eee Less than 1 | Moderate gale________________________ 32-38 
Ii tedet a paneegeeuery en Ocha kobe ee we Bs 1=3\;|Mbreshupaleus 3: ee eee eae eee 39-46 
Whig htybreeze sk cee ele yee ape ae Aa Gp jC ERODE Gall 6 Be jure tien ie pe vet ts bane Spence 47-54 
Gentlesbreezete 2s eee eee le S19) Wholeigalesea2 222 Se Bees ee 55-63 
Moderatelbreeze af oe == yeu 2 ees eee I= LS |S CORN cee ae ea Seek ne eee ere ae 64-75 
breshibreezels 2535-2 ae es 19224) RUrri Canes. 428 aes nya ey te are ese Above 75 
