Ever since man first ventured to sea, he has needed to know not only where he was in relation to the land but also what dangers lay hidden below the surface, and what courses to steer in order to avoid these unseen dangers so as to arrive safely and speedily at his destination – making due allowances for the effects of tidal streams and currents.

Because his sea-maps were working documents, usually exposed to a hostile environment, fewer such old records have survived than is the case with old land maps. Undoubtedly, whilst many early voyages of exploration emanated from Europe, it should not be forgotten that in the – to European eyes – ‘unexplored’ parts of Asia and the Pacific, similar voyages were being made. However, as trade developed between Europe and the rest of the world, hydrographic surveyors from Europe began to record the information needed along the various trade routes.