enable this branch to be placed on the footing becoming the dignity and utility of a Government office. I append to this report (marked B, C, and D) a few of the many notices in regard to the opinion held by those who have sought information at our hands. In conclusion I beg to express to the officers and members of the Maritime Association of the port of New York my sincere thanks and appreciation of the great kindness and consideration with which this office has been treated; helping hands have been lent, words of encouragement said, and much assistance has been given by them to aid in the working and maintenance of the New York Branch Hydrographic Office. B. [The Mechanical News, New York, April 15, 1888.] Citizens of a free country are disposed to consider it one of their inalienable rights to find fault with their Government, its methods, and its instruments. But the fact is, and we mention it as a matter of simple justice, that when the complaining citizen comes in actual contact with public officials, whether in the civil, military, or naval service, he is oftener than otherwise agreeably surprised by having his business politely considered and efficiently attended to. There are exceptions, of course, for human nature is as variable and imperfect in public as in private life. But the rule, if we may judge from considerable experience, is as we have stated. We are led to make these general observations incidentally to an acknowledgment of our obligations to the Branch Hydrographic Office, U. S. Navy, located in the Maritime Exchange, Produce Exchange Building, in this city, under the care of Lieutenant Cottman and his assistants, Lieutenant Halsey and Ensign Luby. It gives us pleasure to say that this, at least, is one branch of the public service which is characterized by courtesy and promptness in its relations with the public. C. [Seaboard, New York, May, 1888.] The directors of the Maritime Exchange, being painfully aware of the insufficient room allotted to the Branch Hydrographic Office in this city, and being firmly impressed with the value of that office to navigators, have adopted a resolution urging Congress to grant a sufficient appropriation to maintain its efficiency. The resolution has complimentary words for the several branch hydrographic offices, and asks the co-operation of all commercial bodies on the sea-board, to the end that the Hydrographic Service may be given an opportunity to attain a true development. We have repeatedly referred to this matter, and pointed to the beggarly accommodations possessed by the branch in this city. It has been a source of wonder that the business of the office here could be properly attended to in the limited space allotted, and much credit is due the officers in charge, who have ever faithfully performed their duty under the greatest possible disadvantages. Now that the Maritime Exchange has taken the matter up, we expect that no time will be lost putting the New York office on a proper footing, both as regards accommodations and the necessary help to maintain its acknowledged efficiency. D. Annual report Maritime Association of the port of New York for 1888.] But probably the most important to us is the Branch Hydrographic Office of the Navy Department on our floor. The practical appreciation of its usefulness is shown by an increase of 51 per cent. in its operations over those of the previous year, 223,000 applications for information having been answered. It is constantly supplied with charts, sailing directions, etc., for all waters, kept corrected to date, with the latest information attainable. On the 1st of October it assumed the collection of marine data from incoming vessels formerly performed by the Signal Service. During the past year its officers boarded 6,341 steamers and vessels on arrival, and collected a valuable mass of intelligence concerning icebergs, derelicts, and other dangers to navigation. It is an invaluable adjunct to the exchange, which is equally necessary to it. The quarters assigned to it have become entirely inadequate. It is therefore to be hoped that the Government will enable it to take more space and compensate us for it on the basis of cost to us. Weekly supple. ments Light lists 69 Day-mark lists.. 143 Rules of the road 671 1,027 1,003 9701, 230 1, 2101, 099 1, 245 1,394 1, 621 1,591 1,738 14,772 1. 344 1,232 1, 280 1, 1901, 046 1, 181 1, 311 1, 546 Notice to mariners. 6, 184 7, 972 7, 897 9, 1837, 914 6, 441 6, 611 7, 256 18, 19221, 393 11, 979 13, 507,124, 529 Pamphlets on va 1, 926 1, 618, 1, 655 146 194 197 293 204 197 265 255 1,752 Information furnished. 12, 170 12, 493 13, 875 4, 7074, 939 5, 875 4, 8655, 008 9,078 6,093 5, 646 6, 297 91,246 Respectfully submitted. Lieut. G. L. DYER, U. S. Navy, Hydrographer. V. L. COTMAN, Lieutenant, U. S. Navy. BRANCH HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888: The growing appreciation of the office, not only by sea faring men but to an important degree by the general public, is especially gratifying. I regret, however, to have to state that owing to the lack of assistants for some months I found it impracticable to carry on the duty as it should have been done. Ensign J. H. Hetherington, U. S. Navy, was detached August 31, 1887; Ensign H. B. Wilson, U. S. Navy, reported for duty November 27, 1887, and is still attached; Ensign Joseph Beale, jr., U. S. Navy, was on duty here from December 1, 1887, to February 17, 1888. The messenger formerly employed was discharged September 30, 1887. The services of an intelligent messenger are very necessary, and I earnestly recommend that one be allowed. Notwithstanding the insufficiency of force and the increased work owing to the transfer of the collection of marine data formerly done by the Signal Service U. S. Army, I take pleasure in calling your attention to the decided increase in work performed during the year. Although this is gratifying 1 am sure that even this would be exceeded if it be deemed expedient to allow the messenger recommended above. The reliability of the monthly Pilot Chart is thoroughly appreciated by mariners, and few vessels cross the Atlantic without them. Its introduction into the public schools in many of the cities and towns of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, by this office, has accomplished much in disseminating valuable and interesting meteorological information. The interest of ship-masters in the publications issued by the Hydrographic Office is demonstrated by the number of their observations, the increased accuracy of the same, and the promptness with which they are forwarded. Nearly all the captains of steamers trading to this port and many of sailing vessels assist in this work in which they have so deep an interest. A substation or office should be established at the Delaware Breakwater, where many vessels call for orders. A great deal of information could thus be obtained from them which is now lost. I feel confident that this suboffice could be maintained at a trifling expense compared with the results. Inquiries are often made for charts of the United States and Mexican coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, and charts on one sheet of the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. I would recommend the publication of these sheets, which I think would find ready sale. The time-ball has worked exceedingly well, the failures to drop when time was received being very few. I have to thank the Maritime Exchange and many firms of shipping agents for courtesies received, especially the exchange, as no rent has been paid for the space occupied by the office since September 30, 1887. The following table presents the work performed during the year: 6, 473 8, 106 10, 155 18, 070 7, 889 10, 582 6, 727 12, 183 16, 149 20, 670 21, 152 15, 176 144, 732 30 52 55 32 43 44 70 51 573 124 2,401 June. Total. U. S. BRANCH HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, BOARD OF TRADE, 54 EXCHANGE PLACE, Baltimore, Md., July 11, 1888. SIR: In obedience to instructions, I submit the report of the work done at this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. On the 5th of November, 1887, I relieved Lieutenant Graham, U. S. Navy. The present location of the office is a serious drawback to its usefulness; a change is not considered advisable, however, until quarters in the custom-house can be procured, after the removal of the post-office to its new building. The location of the time ball on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad building is such that it can not be seen from the wharves in the harbor, where most of the sea-going vessels lie, and on this account is of no benefit to masters wishing to get their own chronometer comparisons and rates. I would suggest that, if possible, arrangements be made to hoist the ball on the tower of the observatory in Federal Hill Park, where it will be of more direct use to those for whom it was intended. No meteorological journals have been issued during the year; not more than three vessels sailing from this port in the past year had the proper instruments for recording observations; some old observers refused to keep the journal requiring observations every two hours, while perfectly willing to take new form 105a-1888. The new forms have been issued to all vessels that would take them, and old observers who heretofore kept the Signal Service blanks speak well of the arrange |