Prepared for Use as a Text Book
at the
OFFICERS' MATERIAL SCHOOL NAVAL AUXILIARY RESERVE
Head of the Department of Navigation
Officers' Material School, Naval Auxiliary Reserve[Pg2]
COPYRIGHT BY ERNEST G. DRAPER[Pg3]
These Lectures have been compiled as speedily as possible to meet the demandfor some quick but fairly comprehensive method whereby large bodies of men, dividedinto small classes, might learn the elements of Navigation and thus assume, withoutdelay, their responsibilities as Junior Officers of the deck, Navigators and AssistantNavigators in the United States Naval Auxiliary Reserve.
I realize that the haste with which the book has been written is apparent inmany places, and it is hoped that many evidences of this haste will disappear incase further editions are printed. Besides acknowledging the help and informationwhich was secured from the list of navigational works, mentioned on another page,I wish to mention particularly Prof. Charles Lane Poor's book, entitled "NauticalScience," from which was secured practically all of the information in the Lectureon Planets and Stars (Tuesday - Week V); Commander W. C. P. Muir's book, "Navigationand Compass Deviations," and Lieutenant W. J. Henderson's book, "Elements of Navigation,"the text of which was followed closely in discussing Variation and Deviation andTraverse Sailing.
I desire to express my gratitude to Lieutenant Commander R. T. Merrill, 2nd,U. S. N., for suggesting a detailed outline of the whole course; to Lieutenant CommanderB. O. Wills, U. S. N., for his valuable criticisms and almost daily help duringthe preparation of these Lectures; to Lieutenant (j. g.) C. D. Draper, U. S. N.R. F.; Lieutenant (j. g.) R. Brush, U. S. N. R. F., and Lieutenant (j. g.) P. C.McPherson, U. S. N. R. F., for many criticisms and suggestions; and to CaptainHuntington, Seamen's Church Institute, for suggesting helpful diagrams, particularlythe one on page 44. This opportunity is also taken for thanking the many Instructorsin the School for their opinions on various questions that have come up in connectionwith the course and for assistance in eliminating errors from the text.
E. G. D.[Pg4]
American Practical Navigator, Bowditch
Navigation and Compass Deviations, Muir
Nautical Science, Poor
Elements of Navigation, Henderson
Wrinkles in Practical Navigation, Lecky
Whys and Wherefores of Navigation, Bradford
Epitome of Navigation, Norie
Navigation, Hosmer
Finding a Ship's Position at Sea, Sumner
General Astronomy, Young
To those taking this course in Navigation:
These lectures have been written with the idea of explaining, in as simple languageas possible, the fundamental elements of Navigation as set forth in Bowditch's AmericanPractical Navigator. They will be given you during the time at the Tra