LIEUT.-COMMANDER C. P. SNYDER, U. S. Navy.—As stated in the author's opening paragraphs, the handling of the later steps of finding the "fix" in case of position-lines is somewhat more difficult by computation from calculated altitudes than the methods by computation of finding the "fix" where we use computed longitudes or latitudes themselves, as in the "Chord Method" of Muir, "Johnson's Method," etc. But the reverse of the above is true in plotting to obtain the fix, i. e., the plotting of lines from calculated altitudes is generally considered simpler, or at least accomplished with greater facility than plotting lines obtained by other methods or by computing the fixes. The author's suggested method and tables, therefore, furnish us a simplification of what has previously been a deterrent in the adoption of the Marcq St. Hilaire Method, at least for those who do not believe that the whole subject of handling lines of position is merely a question of chart work. Surely a naval officer should know both methods of obtaining a "fix": "plotting" and "computation."
Some enthusiasts insist that "plotting" is the only thing, and yet they are generally those who extol the "H. A. Sailor"; very well, let them read the author's quotation from "Lecky," who can most assuredly be designated as a sailor of said type, in which he, Lecky, condemns "plotting" itself for any but the fairest weather. On our modern ships and with our appliances we can plot under almost any conditions, but I think that we should be able to compute as well as plot.
Hence, as Mr. Goodwin's article supplies us with a means to clear away fancied difficulties, it belongs in the category of those articles which should receive publicity to navigators. If its publication brings about discussion among even a few officers upon this subject it will accomplish something; particularly if the discussion drifts into the question of whether we should adopt one standard method and one only, or can be more liberal and admit that there is virtue in both "plotting" and "computation"—hence adopt a middle course, and know both, using each where it is most applicable.