526 APPENDIX. 



tude and longitude, by circummeridian and equal altitudes, daily if 

 possible, and from those points, or the hills or bluffs near by, observa- 

 tions will be made with the theodolite, on all distant points or mountain 

 ranges, with a view to ascertain the actual position of peaks, their 

 extent and height, and to form a connexion with your work. 



For this purpose, I recommend large trees to be barked or white- 

 washed, which will be found the most convenient signal, and easily 

 distinguished on each side of the straits. An old piece of canvass 

 whitewashed and placed against a dark ground, or cut into a triangu- 

 lar form, and tied between branches of trees, forms a mark easily dis- 

 tinguished, and may be left standing. 



It is extremely desirable that the points astronomically ascertained, 

 should be brought directly into connexion with each other by triangu- 

 lation, and no opportunity of getting the bearing of points in transit 

 should be neglected. 



The bays, harbours, &c, will be on the scale of four inches to the 

 mile, but the general chart you will plot on the scale of two inches, 

 which will include all distant points. 



The officers will be particular in sketching in the shores, and tracing 

 the topography. It is expected that the soundings will be full and no 

 part omitted, and that every part of the harbours that are surveyed 

 will be attended to in this respect, as few things give so unsightly an 

 appearance to a survey as an irregularity of soundings. 



In order, therefore, to have a full view of your work done, it is 

 necessary that it should be plotted immediately, and the work kept up 

 daily. 



The number of officers under your command will leave no excuse 

 why it should not be done, and it will be expected by me that this part 

 of your duty will be attended to with the greatest attention. 



You will endeavour to obtain all the information that may lay in 

 your power relative to the geological formation, and capabilities of the 

 soil for agriculture, near and about the parts surveyed ; also all the 

 minerals ; and water-courses or brooks affording water for shipping, 

 will be particularly noticed. 



You will likewise pay great attention to the tides, their height and 

 fall, set of currents, and the time of high and low water at full and 

 change. This may be done in a few hours by marking a staff stuck 

 in the water, a few feet from the shore, and an hour or two before 

 high and low water, noting the time by the watch at the same time, 

 and again when the water rises to the same point : the mean will give 

 you the high and low water on that day, which, applied to the age of 

 the moon, will give it on full and change. 



