The papers consist of various reports, 1850 to 1884, which include surveys (particularly of the Black Sea area); remarks on Crete and the Cretans; on the coal trade of the Black Sea; on a new harbour at Malta; on an electric cable between Malta and Alexandria; reports submitted to the Teignmouth Harbour Commission and Fishery Commission reports for England and Ireland. Spratt's correspondence consists of a few letters received and some draft replies, 1853 to 1860. The memorandum of his service, 1837 to 1862, contains an account of his part in the Crimean War. His publications are also listed.

Administrative / biographical background
Spratt was born at Teignmouth in Devon in 1811 and was the eldest surviving son of Commander James Spratt. He entered the Navy as a first class volunteer on HMS VICTORY at Portsmouth in 1827. Between 1832 and 1846 he was a midshipman, mate and then lieutenant on HMS MASTIFF and then HMS BEACON, both surveying vessels in the Mediterranean under the command of Thomas Graves. He was made a commander in 1849, his ship then being HMS SPITFIRE, a survey vessel in the Mediterranean; he continued in command of her until the end of the Crimean War, becoming a captain in 1855. In 1856 he was appointed to HMS MEDINA and remained surveying in the Mediterranean until 1863. He was a Commissioner of Fisheries from 1866 to 1873 and was promoted to rear-admiral in 1872. In 1878 he became a vice-admiral and from 1879 was acting Conservator of the Mersey Conservancy Board. Spratt published books and articles on the Mediterranean, chiefly on the history and antiquities of Crete. He died at his residence Clare Lodge in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1888.