Organized hydrographic activity on the Adriatic Sea is one of the oldest organized hydrographic activity in the world. The beginning of organized action in this scientific area, dates from 1806, when hydrographic works occur by the famous Charles François Beautemps-Beaupré. By his hydrographic work in favor of the French Navy, he laid foundations of modern hydrography of the Adriatic Sea. On its foundation in the following years there has been a serious increase of the hydrographic activities. His work is the basis for the creation of new and better hydrographic work in the future. Development of techniques over the years has imposed new and better solutions and through the following years under the Austrian Empire and Austro-Hungarian Monarchy where it has been performed great amount of hydrographic work. In that period institutionalizing of the hydrographic activities and the first systematic survey has begun. Hydrographic activity continued intensive development during the reign of the Kingdom of Slovenians, Croats and Serbs and Yugoslavia. War circumstances during the transitional years from one government to another was not sympathetic to the area of hydrographic activities, and at the time of wars often perished many valuable hydrographic originals and other hydrographic materials. Today, the bearer of hydrographic activities in the Republic of Croatia is Croatian Hydrographic Institute, which carries out its activities at the highest possible level. This work analyzes and gives overview of hydrographic surveys on the east cost of the Adriatic Sea.