The series of Pilots or guides to navigation were issued by the Admiralty, London, for a range of maritime areas including the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf Pilot provides, chapter by chapter, a progressive survey of the Gulf Coast viewed from the seaboard side. Particular attention is paid to navigational hazards, including weather, water depths and islands, the regular shipping channels are described and in the later editions illustrations of coastal profiles and views of particular locations are included. The documentary interest of the Pilots lies in their detailed descriptions of coastlines and communities of 50 and 100 years ago, most of which have altered beyond recognition. The Pilots go into great circumstantial detail about local conditions of life as well as the geography of the coastline and shipping features. The Pilots remain a valuable research source.