  The fields chosen for the first observations of the cosmic microwave
background with the Very Small Array have been surveyed with the Ryle Telescope
at 15 GHz. We have covered three regions around RA 00h20m Dec +30deg, RA 09h40m
Dec +32deg and RA 15h40m Dec +43deg (J2000), an area of 520 deg^2. There are
465 sources above the current completeness limit of approximately 25 mJy,
although a total of ~760 sources have been detected, some as faint as 10 mJy.
This paper describes our techniques for observation and data analysis; it also
includes source counts and some discussion of spectra and variability.
Preliminary source lists are presented.
