Lieutenant Bud Nixon and Chief Oceanographer of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Dr. Harris B. Stewart, look on as electronics package of Roberts Radio Current Meter Buoy is prepared on the USC&GS Ship MARMER.

Current buoy in Charleston Harbor

Current buoy maintenance on the USC&GS Ship MARMER

Current buoy maintenance on the USC&GS Ship MARMER

Preparing to drop current pole measuring device astern by party of Jean Hawley.

Deployment of Roberts Radio Current meter from USC&GS MARMER

Diver helping guide Roberts Radio Current Meter and keeping various wires from getting tangled.

Deployment of Roberts Radio Current meter from USC&GS MARMER

Harris B. Stewart in wet suit assisting with current meter deployment.

Electronic technician Angelo Ferrara on left checking various electrical connections during Roberts Radio Current Meter deployment.

Deployment of Roberts Radio Current meter

Dr. Harris B. Stewart helping deploy Roberts Radio Current Meter from USC&GS Ship EXPLORER during Gulf Stream observations

Dr. Harris B. Stewart helping deploy Roberts Radio Current Meter from USC&GS Ship EXPLORER during Gulf Stream observations. Commander David Whipp looking up in center background.

Current pole measurements by seaman using stop watch to determine velocity of current as pole carries out line.

Deploying Roberts Radio Current Meter from USC&GS Ship EXPLORER during Gulf Stream observations

Deploying Roberts Radio Current Meter from USC&GS Ship GILBERT

Ensign George Maul inspecting Roberts Radio Current Meter on board USC&GS Ship EXPLORER.

Harris B. Stewart inspecting air supply prior to diving from USC&GS Ship GILBERT near Little Creek.

Harris B. Stewart preparing for scuba diving operation from USC&GS Ship GILBERT

Harris B. Stewart preparing for scuba diving operation from USC&GS Ship GILBERT

Harris B. Stewart preparing for scuba diving operation from USC&GS Ship GILBERT

Harris B. Stewart preparing for scuba diving operation from USC&GS Ship GILBERT. Pre-dive checkout of Roberts Radio Current Meter.

Preparing for diving operations in support of current meter operations from USC& GS Ship GILBERT.

Harris B. Stewart proceeding over the side of a launch at Swan Island during EXPLORER trip from Seattle to Norfolk.

Underwater current meter maintenance from USC&GS Ship HYDROGRAPHER . This is among the earliest of underwater color photographs taken by a NOAA ancestor agency.

USC&GS Ship HYDROGRAPHER at Roberts Radio Current Meter buoy while divers perform underwater maintenance.

Card enclosed in drift bottle directing finder to break the bottle.

Drift bottle information to be furnished by finder and returned to Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Perhaps the last drift bottle that will ever be found. All drift bottle records have been closed for years so the exact location and even ship that launched Drift Bottle 17465 is unknown. It is probable that it was launched from either the EXPLORER or PATHFINDER in the 1950's or 1960's. It is remarkable that the bottle survived for close to fifty years.

Preparing drift bottles for launching from USC&GS Ship EXPLORER.

Oceanographer Michael Slapsys launching a drift bottle from the USC&GS Ship EXPLORER. Photo #1.

Oceanographer Michael Slapsys launching a drift bottle from the USC&GS Ship EXPLORER. Photo #2.

Roberts Radio Current Meter woes being attended to in the Gulf Stream. Apparently either a problem with retrieval or deployment. Harris B. Stewart in foreground striped shirt, while Commander David Whipp (scrambled eggs) looks on.

Captain Crosby, Chief of the Tides and Currents Division of the USC&GS, looks on as Roberts Radio Current Meter is deployed. Looks a little breezy out there as Captain Crosby has his hat secured with the chin strap. He went on this expedition as an observer.

Approaching Air Force early warning radar tower off Georges Shoal during survey operations from USC&GS Ship HYDROGRAPHER. This site was Texas Tower #2.

Diver heads over the side of survey launch during 1958 survey of Georges Shoal.

Approaching Texas Tower #2 on Georges Shoal to pick up personnel during survey operations.

Diver assisting with obstruction removal from wire drag vessel.

Installation of gear used for observing currents with Gurley Meter.

Preparing to hoist current meter buoy aboard USC&GS ship

USC&GS ensign using marigram tide tabulating machine.

Illustration detailing the difference between old hand-scaling of marigrams vs. use of new electronic marigram scanning machine.

Placing marker buoys in water, purpose not noted on photograph.

Deployed marker buoy.

Deploying Pillsbury current meter from USC&GS Steamer BLAKE for Gulf Stream studies in Anegada Passage.

Deploying Pillsbury current meter from USC&GS Steamer BLAKE for Gulf Stream studies.

Pole, line, and pelorus for observing direction and rate of current after deploying from anchored launch.

Deploying Price Current Meter.

Observer monitoring deployed Price Current meter.

"Counting the clicks." The number of clicks heard in a given time was a measure of the velocity of the current.