Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/93

Rh plored for purposes of navigation is yet smaller and is almost confined to the frozen regions of the earth, which are unvisited by commerce and unpeopled. A prominent feature of the investigation and one which can not fail to bring a realization of the great responsibility resting upon navigators and the skill and caution required of them in the naviga- tion of coastal waters in nearly all parts of the world is the immense extent of the coast line which, while sufficiently known to be approached, can not be navigated with security.

It is in general useless for the nautical surveyor of the present day to devote himself to the rapid reconnaissance of a coast in the manner that proved so ac-