Chapter CXXIX. to establish a Hydrographic Office in the Navy Department
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CHAP. CXXIX.— An Act to establish a Hydrographic Office in the Navy Department.June 21, 1866. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UnitedA hydrographic office to be attached to bureau of navigation in Navy Department.Purposes thereof. States of America in Congress assembled,* That there shall be a hydrographic office attached to the bureau of navigation in the Navy Department, for the improvement of the means for navigating safely the vessels of the navy and of the mercantile marine, by providing, under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, accurate and cheap nautical charts, sailing directions, navigators, and manuals of instructions, for the use of all vessels of the United States, and for the benefit and use of navigators generally.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the Secretary of the NavyMaps, charts, &c., to be published and furnished to navigators at cost of printing and paper.Copyrights to be purchased. be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be prepared, at the hydrographic office attached to the bureau of navigation in the Navy Department, maps, charts, and nautical books relating to and required in navigation, and to publish and furnish them to navigators at the cost of printing and paper, and to purchase the plates and copyrights of such existing maps, charts, navigators, sailing directions and instructions, as he may consider necessary, and when he may deem it expedient to do so, and under such rules, regulations, and instructions as he may prescribe.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the moneys which may be receivedMoney received from sales of maps, charts, &c., to be returned to treasury, and how used. from the sale of all such maps, charts, and nautical books shall be returned by the Secretary of the Navy into the treasury of the United States, to be used in the further preparation and publication of maps, charts, navigators, sailing directions and instructions for the use of seamen, and to be sold at the rates as set forth in the preceding section.
Approved, June 21, 1866.