The staff readings are taken as follows:
(1) The instrument is set up and carefully leveled.
(2) The staff is held vertically over the staff station.
To hold the staff vertically, the staff man stands behind the levelling staff with his heels together and the bottom of the staff in between his toes.
….and holds the staff in between the palms at the height of his face. The staff is moved till the bubble at the back is at the center.
(3) The telescope is directed towards the staff by the instrument man, and it is focused by using the focusing screw.
The telescope is moved till the staff is exactly between the vertical hairs of the diaphragm.
(4) If the bubble on the telescope is not at the center, the same is centered by using the foot screws. The readings may now be taken.
The staff reading is the reading on the staff at which the horizontal hair appears to cut the staff.
A staff reading consists of 4 digits.
The first digit represents the whole number of meters, the second digit represents decimeters, and the third, and fourth digits represent millimeters.