This book presents a complete account of the 19th century German immigrant Edward Cordell, a hydrographer who discovered a major seamount that was designated the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The book is entirely primary source material, and offers previously unpublished material about Edward Cordell, the Cordell Bank, and numerous other events and places associated with Cordell and the United States Coast Survey. The book will be of interest to maritime researchers and historians, environmental scientists and managers, and general enthusiasts of maritime history and the U.S. Coast Survey in the mid-1800s.

Autorentext
Dr. Robert William Schmieder is the founder and Expedition Leader of Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research group begun in 1977. The group is responsible for the creation of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and for numerous research expeditions to remote oceanic sites. His specialty has been very large and complicated scientific expeditions and developing new communications technology for remote expedition sites. Professionally he is a research physicist, with about 100 publications including four patents. He is the inventor and founder of NanoLogic Inc. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club and former Chairman of its Northern California Chapter. For 28 years, he was the owner and operator of a research vessel, the Cordell Explorer. Originally licensed in 1962, he holds amateur radio Extra Class license KK6EK. He is the author of about a dozen books, most based on his expeditions.

Inhalt
Chapter1. Origins 1828-48.- Chapter2. America 1849-50.- Chapter3. The early coast survey 1851-52.- Chapter4. Stellwagen bank 1853-57.- Chapter5. Hydrographic draftsman 1857-61.- Chapter6. Casco bay 1861.- Chapter7. North carolina 1862.- Chapter8. Casco bay continued 1862.- Chapter9. Florida reefs 1863.- Chapter10. Maine: portland rocks 1853.- Chapter11. North carolina lighthouses 1861-65.- Chapter12. California! 1865.- Chapter13. Half moon bay south 1855.- Chapter14. Suisun and carquinez 1865.- Chapter15. Point reyes to bodega 1866.- Chapter16. Currents and tides 1867.- Chapter17. Blossom rock 1857.- Chapter18. The later coast survey 1867.- Chapter19. Suisun creeks 1867.- Chapter20. Point sal 1867.- Chapter21. Columbia river 1867-68.- Chapter22. Vitula shoal.- Chapter23. Point reyes light 1869.- Chapter24. George Davidson's discovery 1853.- Chapter25. Searching for the bank 1868-69.- Chapter26. Discovery of cordell bank 1869.- Chapter27. Logs and data.- Chapter28. First biological specimens.- Chapter29. How cordell  bank got its name.- Chapter30. First chart.- Chapter31. Santa barbara channel 1859.- Chapter32. Sudden death 1870.- Chapter33. Unfinished work.- Chapter34. The resurvey of cordell bank 1873.- Chapter35. Relatives.- Chapter36. The person named Edward Cordell.