A BSTR ACT 



This report has been prepared for the use of persons studying 

 the composition of the sea bottom. It describes the source, 

 type, quantity, and geographic distribution of bottom sediment 

 information available at the U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office 

 and lists the principal types of charts which can be prepared 

 from such information. It also describes the forms in which 

 bottom sediment data appear and discusses their relative re- 

 liability in terms of the sampling device employed, the type of 

 analysis made, and the classification or description of the 

 sediment. Furthermore, this report describes the filing system 

 used to organize, control, maintain, and retrieve the data. 



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