Report of the U. S. Coast Survey for 1883. 45. 
During the fiscal year 1882-3 the annual reports for 1878, 1879 
and 1880 were printed and distributed, and “ but for a con- 
tractor’s failure to produce the sketches and illustrations in 
time” the 1881 report would have been found in the same 
category. 
But the 1881 report was actually issued more than a year 
ago, shortly followed by that for 1882, and now the 1883. 
report has promptly followed. 
That this volume should be a worthy successor in this long 
series we have a right to expect, and we are not disappointed. 
From the nature of the subjects treated in the scientific parts 
of these volumes it is but natural that some volumes would 
prove of more popular interest, or of interest to a larger class 
of readers than others. The appendices in the present volume, 
os, 12 and 14 on refraction in connection with hypsometrie 
measurements and on standard topographical drawings, are likely 
to render this a volume for which there will be more than the 
usual demand. 
The report before us departs but very little in its form, or 
general make-up, orclass of topics treated, from its predecessors, 
The general form, originally adopted in this series, has re- 
quired and indeed has received very little modification during 
- Its 83 years of existence. Broadly stated, these reports present 
two classes of facts and for two classes of readers. he 
form exactly conform to this. From a scientific point of view 
Such an arrangement would doubtless be preferable, but 
whether expedient or not must be decided by the survey itself. 
“ven as it is, the “ make-up” of the volume is so well done 
that no one consulting it need lose time in finding what he 
Seeks. The table of contents, list of appendices and their con- 
tents, list of sketches and illustrations, and the alphabetical int 
€x of 18 pages, furnish the needful guides for rapid consul~ 
