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PREFACE. In presenting this, the Seventh Edition of Scott's New Coast Pilot, the publishers desire to thank the public for their liberal patronage and to say that the preceeding editions have been carefully revised and cor- rected, and many new additions made. | _ We consider the publication of a new edition at this time very neces- sary, as many changes and additions have been made in the aid of naviga- tion within the last three years, the principal ones being the establishment of light-houses and gas buoys at various localities. It will be observed that in this edition we have omitted inserting cuts of the several harbors. The reason for so doing is that so many changes are being made in the construction, repairing and replacing of breakwaters and their accompanying beacon lights that it is impossible for us to keep the cuts up-to- date, so as not to make them misleading. Charts of the various harbors corrected and kept up to date can be had for a small expense from the Lake Survey Offices in the larger cities, and as complete directions for entering and leaving such harbors are given in the Coast Pilot we believe the omission is justifiable. The depth of water given in the harbors are not always to be relied on, owing partly to the fluctuations of the water surface of the lakes, but more particularly to the formation of sand bars between or in advance of the piers. The only remedy for these obstructions is the extension of the piers and annual dredging. It is confidently believed that the "Coast Pilot" is now much improved, and will be of service to vessel masters as a ready reference. Bad mis- takes are frequently made, not from want of knowledge on the subject, but from temporary incorrectness of thought; this is frequently the case in applying variation, and deviation, in correcting compass errors. It will also be of service to those who are not gifted with retentive memories. The work is particularly recommended to the young sailor who desires to succeed in his calling, who by carefully studying the charts, and the "Coast Pilot," can acquire a knowledge of the lakes in a short time, what others have been years learning by personal observation.