🔍 Key Concepts

• Use of U.S. Coast Pilot or local nautical chart for detailed bottom characteristics • Understanding chart symbols for seabed composition (e.g., sand, mud, shells, gravel) • Importance of exact latitude and longitude when identifying a specific shoal or bank

💭 Think About

• How would you use the given latitude and longitude to locate Nautilus Shoal on a nautical chart? • Once you find Nautilus Shoal on the chart, where do you look to see the bottom characteristics and how are they abbreviated? • If multiple areas around the shoal have different bottoms, how do you decide which one applies to the exam question’s position?

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm you are on the correct chart that covers 37°03'N, 75°56'W (off the Virginia coast). • Check the exact charted symbol or abbreviation printed at or nearest to Nautilus Shoal (e.g., 's', 'ms', 'fS', 'M', etc.). • Verify that you are reading the bottom description, not depth or other nearby feature labels.