GEO. UHLER, _Supervising Inspector General_.
+Zig-zag.+ The great utility of zig-zagging is recognized. The Zig-zag control apparatus, marketed by Captain Arthur N. McGray of New York, has special advantages, and watch officers should master its use.
+Bearings.+ Get bearings, +bow and beam+, +two point+, or +cross+, at every opportunity. Get +vertical angles+, +horizontal angles+, +tangents+, wherever possible. +Fix+ the vessel as often as you can.
If the vessel carried a three-armed protractor, get the horizontal angles between any three objects that are visible, and favorably situated with reference to the vessel, +and are plotted on the chart+.
+Lights.+ See all light houses, and light ships, when you expect to, or call the Captain.
+Azimuths—Amplitudes.+ Get azimuths and amplitudes at every favorable opportunity and see the results carefully entered in the deviation log, so the Captain can inspect them.
+Sights.+ Get sights as often as possible on the watch. With clear horizon at twilight, get stars east and west, and north and south. Such a fix is often most important. Check up all dead reckoning by observations.
+Hydrographic Reports.+ The report blanks furnished by the Hydrographic Office should be carefully filled out and forwarded. This duty is usually given to one of the junior officers.
+Pilot Charts.+ The officer on watch can very profitably occupy his mind in studying the pilot charts furnished by the U. S. Hydrographic Office, they yield much useful data, and are specially useful in warning of the existence of derelicts, and their possible drift.
+Derelicts.+ Trace out all derelicts shown in your path with their possible drift since last report. Always keep a sharp lookout for them, whether on the pilot chart or not.
+Bridge.+ Many bridges are fitted with comfortable shelters at the wings—others with elaborate enclosures. A simple work desk should be provided, when only one officer is on watch, so he can work out bearings, etc., while on the bridge, facing ahead.
+Useful Desk.+ The desk also serves as a handy table for his sextant, or for a cup of hot coffee—cabin style.
+Quartermasters.+ Quartermasters are usually carried, and they are under the immediate charge of the officer of the watch. The care of the bridge, its neat and shipshape appearance, reflects credit, or otherwise, on the watch officers.