IMPROPER FUEL LOAD DUE TO INACCURATE 'DRIP STICK' MEASUREMENT THAT WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF AN INOP FUEL GAUGE.

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ATR-72 L FUEL GAUGE DEFERRED INOP. LANST (FLT) OF DAY. MANUAL CALLS FOR TANKS TO BE DRIP STICKED AND READINGS TO BE COMPARED ON A CHART TO DETERMINE ACTUAL FUEL LOAD. FO READ THE STICKS WHILE UP ON A LADDER. I WATCHED FROM GND -- I COULD SEE THE INDICATIONS. OUTER STICK READ BTWN ZERO AND 1. IF IT READ ZERO; A DIFFERENT CHART WOULD BE USED BUT FO SWORE (AND I COULD SEE) THAT IT READ BTWN ZERO AND 1 SO WE USED APPROPRIATE CHART. ALSO; DURING SINGLE POINT FUELING; FUELER VALVE OPEN LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. I DID NOT; INCREDIBLY STUPIDLY; COMPARE WHAT WAS UPLOADED WITH WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD. BUT BEFORE TKOF; ABOUT (AT LEAST) 4 TIMES WE VERIFIED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE OUTER STICK READING WITH THE CHART. WE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD THE PROPER FUEL LOAD. WRONG! AFTER DEP; THE L FUEL GAUGE STARTED WORKING (NOT UNUSUAL FOR THESE AIRPLANES) AND IT SHOWED A VERY LOW AMOUNT IN #1 TANK -- ABOUT 1 HR'S WORTH. FLT TIME IS 1.5 AND WE HAD PLENTY IN TANK #2 SO WE CONTINUED THE FLT. CROSSED FROM TANK 2; NOT REALLY SURE IF #1 GAUGE WAS ACCURATE OR NOT (WE KNEW #2 GAUGE WAS ACCURATE). LANDED WITH 1200 LBS WHICH EQUATES TO APPROX 45 MINS FUEL WHEN YOU BURN AT 1500 LBS PER HR. TOTAL FUEL BURN. MISTAKES MADE: #1; WHEN L REFUELER VALVE DID NOT INDICATE OPEN I SHOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. FUELER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY SO I TOOK HIM AT HIS WORD -- SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGED IT. #2; SHOULD HAVE COMPARED UPLIFTED FUEL WITH WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE UPLIFTED! #3; SHOULD ROUND DRIPSTICK READINGS DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE SO INACCURATE. I FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT. MY FO FEELS WORSE. IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION TO ME; AND IT'S NOT; I DISCUSSED THIS LAST NIGHT WITH A GOOD FRIEND WHO FLIES ATRS. THIS HAS HAPPENED; APPARENTLY; TO LOTS OF PEOPLE; AND MANY HAVE LANDED WITH A LOT LESS FUEL (IE; THE LOW FUEL LEVER LIGHTS ON; WHICH COME ON AT 352 LBS). BUT I'M THE CAPT AND I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF I DON'T GET FIRED BY THE COMPANY (I DON'T THINK THEY FOUND OUT. WE SURE AS HELL DIDN'T TELL THEM!) AND IF I EVER GET AN INOP FUEL GAUGE AGAIN; I'M GONNA MAKE DAMN CERTAIN THAT THE PROPER FUEL LOAD IS ON BOARD BEFORE THE START SWITCH IS TOUCHED; LET ME TELL YOU!