Final answer:
In the government survey system, parcels that are smaller than a standard quarter section due to natural features are called fractional sections or government lots.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the government survey system, when natural features such as rivers, mountains, or lakes led to the creation of a parcel of land that was smaller than a standard quarter section, these parcels were referred to as fractional sections or government lots.
This system, a part of the rectangular survey system, was devised to standardize rural land parcels and facilitate the sale and division of land in a more equitable and orderly manner than the previous systems, like the metes and bounds or the long lots.
While a regular quarter section of land consists of 160 acres, fractional sections could vary significantly in size due to the necessity of accommodating natural terrain.