Carriage of passengers.

The inspectors shall state in every certificate of inspection granted to steamers carrying passengers, other than ferryboats, the number of passengers of each class that any such steamer has accommodations for, and can carry with prudence and safety. (R. S., 4464).

It shall not be lawful to take on board of any steamer a greater number of passengers than is stated in the certificate of inspection; and for every violation of this provision the master or owner shall be liable, to any person suing for the same, to forfeit the amount of passage-money and ten dollars for each passenger beyond the number allowed. (R. S., 4465.)

Every steam vessel licensed under the foregoing section shall carry and have on board, in accessible places, one life-preserver for every person allowed to be carried, in addition to those provided for the crew of such vessel. (July 9, 1886; sec. 2.)

CHAPTER XI
THE SECOND MATE

Watches. The Second Mate of an ocean steamer is always a watch officer, that is, he is in responsible charge of a watch at sea, and where the Chief, Second, and Third Mates, stand the watches, his watch is generally taken from Noon until 4 P.M., and from Midnight to 4 A.M., or he stands the afternoon and the mid watches.

Hold Duty. The Second Mate is in charge of the after holds. His duties, under the Chief Mate, are those outlined in the duties and responsibilities of that officer. The Second Mate is the understudy of the Chief Mate and should diligently prepare himself to take up the work of that position. The Second Mate who is fortunate enough to be shipmates with a top-notch first officer, should improve every opportunity to study his superior and to perfect himself in the difficult duty of the station next ahead.

Coming Alongside. In coming alongside, coming to anchor, docking, etc., the Second Mate is in charge aft.

He should note the clearance of the propellers, and should promptly report by voice or telegraph, or by messenger, when anything in his end of the ship requires the attention of the Master on the bridge.

A quartermaster, with semaphore flags, is a handy means of communicating with the bridge while docking. Red and white lights are sometimes used while docking at night.

The station aft is in many respects the most important in the vessel while coming along side, and intelligent handling of the lines and men soon stamps an officer as well qualified in his profession.

He should use judgment in sending ashore, or "heaving," small lines, as the attempt to put a heaving line across too great a distance often results in dangerous delays, and leads to confusion.

He should see the cork fenders handy, with men told off to handle them. He should study the men assigned to his end of the ship and place only reliable men at the capstans and bits. A man who can properly "surge" a seven-inch line, under heavy strain is a rarity these days.

He should understand, and have men ready, for the throwing in and operating of the hand-steering gear in case of emergency.

Cargo Gear. The after cargo gear, is generally under the charge of the Second Mate, and he is in charge of the opening and closing of the after cargo hatches.

Baggage. The Second Mate is generally in charge of the handling and care of heavy baggage, in vessels in the passenger trade. This is important duty, and calls for care and dispatch. Such baggage is whipped ashore as fast as possible so that the customs inspectors are not delayed.

Mail. The Second Mate is also charged with the handling and stowage of the mail sacks—unless in a very large liner where special mail clerks attend to this duty.

Navigating Officer. The Second Mate is sometimes designated the "Navigating Officer," that is, he is charged with the special care of the navigating equipment. Corrects charts from the "Notices to Mariners" and assists the Master generally in the navigating duty. He may be required to wind the chronometers each morning at eight bells and report them wound to the Master, though when standing the mid watch, this duty is usually attended to by the Master himself, who, in the Merchant Service is the responsible navigating officer of his vessel.

The Second Mate corrects the ship's clocks for difference of Longitude to noon.

However, the naming of the Second Mate, as navigating officer has much to commend it. He then has special duties, and is charged with the complete supervision of the compasses, sounding machines, instruments, lead lines, patent logs and log lines. He should perfect himself in the science of navigation and master the simple (and to many) mysterious principles of compass adjustment. He should be in charge of the deviation log and prepare the deviation tables for each loading and voyage.

CHAPTER XII
THE THIRD MATE

Watches. The Third Mate of an ocean steamer is generally a watch officer. If the vessel is of any size, and the three mates stand watch, the watch from eight to noon and from eight to midnight, is usually assigned to the Third Mate. This is one of the best watches, and the watch during which the Master is most likely to be up and about. As the junior watch officer is the least experienced, it is best that he have the Master close at hand in the event of anything unusual occurring.

Hold Duty. The Third Mate is generally given charge of the forward holds, under the immediate supervision of the Chief Mate. Here his duties are those outlined in the chapter headed Chief Mate. He is directly under the mate and should use every effort to familiarize himself with his duties and with the vessel. He should carry out all orders to the letter, and aim to perfect himself in the many branches of seamanship and navigation. The duty to cargo, and the hold duty is one of his most important charges.

Coming Alongside. When coming alongside, or to anchor, or when docking, the Third Mate is stationed on the bridge with the Master. He usually attends to the telegraph, cons the quartermaster at the wheel and looks out for the work on the bridge generally. This post is one of special importance for the young officer as he gets, from close observation, a splendid opportunity to observe and learn the details of ship handling. He sees the mistakes made fore and aft, in the handling of lines, etc., and can, if he will, profit by this experience.

Gangway. The Third Mate is usually charged with the getting in and out of the gangway, and with the safe embarkation of passengers. He must keep order, and note who comes on board, and what their business is while the vessel is being permanently secured or anchored, and before the regular gangway watch is set.

Signal Officer. While the duty is not generally assigned, it is a good plan to designate the Third Mate as "Signal Officer." This charges him with the care and use of the signal flags and other apparatus, and he should perfect himself in their rapid and accurate use.

The Third Mate should master the hand semaphore signals and should see that at least two of the quartermasters are adept at this form of communication. Such knowledge is of the greatest use when in convoy with men-of-war, and can be made use of in a hundred different ways while lying at anchor, or when communicating with other vessels or the shore. So many seamen are now familiar with the semaphore alphabet that it has become one of the handiest means of talking at sea over moderate distances, and its use at once stamps a vessel as being up to time.

He should also know the Morse Code and be able to send and read by the blinker or Morse lamp.

This is used in convoy work instead of wireless.

Bridge. The bridge, and the duties of the quartermasters on the bridge and bridge deck, are generally delegated to the Third Mate, or to any officer who may be junior to him. This means general upkeep and order. A well-regulated and well-kept up bridge is a joy—the reverse is all too common.

CHAPTER XIII
THE JUNIOR OFFICERS

Most vessels now carry one or more junior officers, young men who have some sea experience and who have prepared themselves to a certain extent in navigation. Many of them come on board ship with a very hazy idea as to what it is all about. They are willing enough, but don't know where to begin. They would be glad to tail onto the starboard main t'gallant buntline, but don't know just where it is.

For such as these, the following random Things to Do and to learn about are suggested:

Do the things you are told to do, then—

1. Find our what quartermasters are doing.

2. Look after hand leads and lines, are they marked correctly—accurately?

3. See that log is ready for streaming, as soon as past the light ship, or other mark.

4. Find switch for running lights—are they in order?

5. Look up log book, see how it is kept, and if up to date.

6. See that note book on the bridge is handy.

7. See if the clock in the wheel house and chart room is correct.

8. Work up the chronometer error.

9. See that the bridge dodgers are properly bent, and are clean.

10. See that the binoculars and telescopes on the bridge are in their proper places and are clean.

11. Find out where the Coston lights are kept.

12. Find out what are red and what are blue lights, how many on board?

13. See that the binnacle lights are in working order.

14. See that the automatic fog whistle control works; how often does it blow when set—is it according to law?

15. See if the whistle works, don't pull it unless the Chief Mate or the Master says so.

16. Try out the engine room telegraph—the docking telegraph—after notifying the Chief that you intend doing so and on order of the Mate or Master.

17. Find out what kind of signals are used between the crow's nest and the bridge. The fo'c'sle head and the bridge.

18. Find out if the crow's nest lookout uses glasses—what kind—where kept.

19. Find out what sort of sounding machine is used—how it works—what kind of tubes are used—where the depth scale is kept—where the tubes are kept. Look at the "leads" see if they are "armed," see if there is plenty of "arming" handy. What kind—soap or tallow?

20. Overhaul the bridge chests—signal—navigating—put them in better order than you found them.

21. Look after the patent log—the lines—the rotators.

22. Become familiar with the entire bridge. Know the use of everything on it.

23. How are the compasses adjusted? Rectangular magnets, or single magnet?

24. Has the ship a Flinder's bar? Where is it? What is it? Why?

25. What are the quadrantal correctors? What do they correct?

26. Where are the distress rockets? Are they fastened to their sticks? Where are the sticks? When are they used? How?

27. Where is the line-throwing gun? How is it used? Where is the projectile? Where is the line? What kind of line is it? Why?

28. How many lifeboats are on board. How many rafts? How many ring buoys? How many life preservers? Why?

29. What is the required equipment of a lifeboat? See if all of this is in the lifeboat to which you are assigned on the station bill.

30. What is the equipment of a life raft? How is it stowed? How launched?

31. What is your station, at abandon ship? Who is in your boat? What do they look like? Take a look at the crew assigned to your boat—know them.

32. What kind of davits are used?

33. What kind of releasing gear is used?

34. Are the gripes easily cast off? Are the falls clear? Are they in tubs, as required by law?

35. What are your duties in case of fire? In case of fire in the holds, to cargo. Find out about this.

36. If the wharf caught fire, and everyone was ashore, that is, all the officers, but yourself. What would you do? Think over it.

37. Where do the seamen live, the firemen, the stewards? Where is the "glory hole"?

38. What are the duties of the boatswain?

39. What are the duties of the carpenter?

40. What are the duties of the quartermasters?

41. Learn the details of the complete economy of the vessels. How the crew and passengers are fed, where they mess, where stores are kept?

42. Learn the routine in your department. Why are things done as they are?

43. What is the ship's draft? How is it recorded?

44. Where are the sounding pipes? Look up the framed sectional blue print of the vessel that ought to be framed in the chart room.

45. What is the tons per inch scale?

46. What is the displacement of the vessel?

47. Learn her complete dimensions.

Length between perpendiculars.
Length over all.
Depth of hold.
Moulded depth.
Beam.
Freeboard, allowed by underwriters (draft).
Gross tonnage.
Net tonnage.
Horse-power.
Speed.
Coal consumption.
Her most economical speed, and tons per day.
Her hold capacity. Holds and 'tween decks.
Her tank capacity.
Her bunker capacity.
Her engines. I.H.P. type.
Her boilers, number, type.
Her wireless. Range.

48. What is the vessel's signal number?

49. What is her hailing port?

50. What is her rating, when given?

51. When built? By whom? Kind of construction?

52. Look up old log books if available. Speed under different kinds of weather conditions.

53. Has she bilge keels?

54. What kind of propellers, or propeller? Material? Pitch? Right handed or left? How will it send the vessel's head—going ahead—backing?

55. Learn everything you can about her construction, and equipment.

56. What is her draft when light—holds empty? What is her stability when in this condition? Is her propeller out of water in that condition? How much? What is her light displacement? How can you determine her stability—by means of shifting weights on deck?

57. How many cubic feet to a ton of bunker coal?

58. How many pounds to a cubic foot of sea water? Fresh water?

59. How do you figure the cubic capacity of a lifeboat? How many cubic feet allowed per person?

60. What is the strength of a new six-inch manila line? Of a five-inch wire hawser?

61. What is the tensile strength of mild steel? Of cast iron? The compressive strength?

62. Can you figure out the safe load for a steel boom under given conditions? Shell and stiffining given, supports and angle given? Safety factor 5.

63. Become familiar with the fittings of the holds. Go in, look around and study out the plan of construction and use.

64. Find out the location and use of the following parts—

Limbers.
Limber boards.
Ceiling.
Cargo battens.
Rose boxes (strums, also strainers).
Intercostal plates.
Keelson.
Stringers.
Framing.
Beams.
Shell plating.
Pillars.
Bulkheads.
Tanks.
Bilges.
Smothering lines.
Sounding pipes.
Fire lines.
Light connections.
Mast partners.
Mast wedges.
Shaft trunk.
Hatch coamings.
Hatch strong backs.
Hatch fore and afters.
Hatch battens.
Hatch covers.
Wedges.

65. Where do the steam pipes lead into the holds?

66. Where are the valves located? Which is which?

67. Where are the plugs for cargo clusters?

68. Where are the cargo clusters kept? How many are there?

69. Are they all in good condition?

70. How much dunnage wood in the holds?

71. What cargo was carried last?

72. What cargo loading or coming in?

73. How much and what kind of dunnage will be needed?

74. Who is the boss stevedore? Watch him.

75. Note where each ventilator leads to.

76. Get acquainted with the deck engineers.

77. What kind of winches are used?

78. Get familiar with all details of the cargo handling gear. How many booms, capacity? Is gear rove off on steel boom? Where is it stowed? In what condition? How is it rigged?

79. How many hawsers in the vessel? Where stowed? In what condition?

80. How many wires in the vessel? What size? Where and how stowed?

81. How does hand steering gear work? What type of steering engine? How is it locked when shifting from steam to hand?

82. Are there wave oil tanks? Where? How is flow of oil controlled? What kind of oil is used? How much on board? How much required by law?

83. Where are the following lockers, and what do they contain?

Boatswain's.
Paint.
Lamp.
Sail.

84. Is there a steam line running into the paint and lamp lockers for smothering fire?

85. What kind of windlass is fitted? How does it work by hand? How many men needed to weight anchor by hand?

86. Do the gangways abreast of cargo hatches turn in, lift out, or are the rails and bulwarks stationary? Are the freeing ports well oiled and loose?

87. Where is the ice plant? What hatch?

88. Where is the washdeck gear kept? Are reducers fitted on salt water line for inch and a half wash deck hose?

89. Where is the sand locker?

90. Has the vessel range lights?

91. Learn the names and condition of the stays and shrouds. What strain do they bear—ordinarily—when lifting heavy weights?

92. What kind of coaling gear is used?

93. Has the vessel a sea anchor? Was it over used?

94. Examine the turnbuckle screws in the rigging. Are they covered with canvas? How old? Are they whiteleaded and tallowed?

95. Where are the slings, chain and rope kept? In what condition? How many?

96. How many net slings on board? What condition?

97. What happens when metal becomes fatigued? Where is this liable to happen? What is a crystalline fracture?

98. What kind of wood in the decks? In the margin or waterway planks? Know Oregon pine—pitch pine—yellow pine—teak, when you see it.

99. How are decks caulked? What kind of filler is used—pitch—marine glue?

100. What do you know about the following parts of a steamer? Of her fittings, etc.?

Anchor davits?
Anchors?
Awning deck?
Ballast—water—dry?
Beams—camber of—duty of—theory of—spacing—strength—types?
Bilges—bilge keels?
Boat chocks. Davits—cranes?
Bollards? How many, etc?
Bow—different kinds—framing?
Breast hooks?
Bridge—locations—names, etc.?
Buckled—plates—spars?
Bulkheads? How many—what kind—where?
Bull rope?
Bulwarks?
Bunkers—how many—what capacity—where?
Buoyancy? What is it? Reserve buoyancy?
Bureau veritas? What is it? What does it do?
Buttock lines?
Buttstraps?
Cables—size—weight—strength—studs—marking—shackles—forelocks—swivels?
Cant frames (old dagger knees)?
Cantilever principle—where used?
Capstans—where—how many—what uses?
Cargo—a big subject—takes a year or two to master it.
Catheads?
Cattle steamers—guards—footlocks, etc?
Caulking—tools—materials? Steel plates—wood decks? Ceiling?
Cement—hydraulic—asphaltic?
Chain—slings—for clearing limbers, etc.?
Chart house?
Cheek plates?
Circulating pumps?
Coaling hatches—ports—chutes?
Coamings?
Coefficient of fineness?
Commercial efficiency of a vessel?
Composite construction?
Corrosion—where most prevalent—how to keep down?
Dead weight cargo? also measurement cargo?
Decks—how many—where—what purpose?
Derricks? How many?
Docking—stresses—all—data?
Dolly—what is it?
Donkey boiler—where—why?
Doors—water-tight—where—how closed—how controlled?
Double bottom? See plans—study.
Doubling plates? Where?
Drain holes—in bottom?
Elastic limit—of materials used in construction of vessel?
Electric welding—how—how strong?
Engine—learn all you can about it.
Escape holes—for trimmers?
Expansion joints—bends—trunks?
Fair leads?
Fans?
Fiddley?
Floors—rise of?
Flush deck?
Fore foot?
Forgings?
Frames?—look them over when in the hold. What are
1. Z bars?
2. Bulb angles?
3. Channel bars?
4. Web frames?
5. Reverse frames?
6. Transome frames?
Freeboard? How determined?
Freeing ports—percentage of in bulwarks?
Frictional, or skin resistance?
Galley? Where—how many?
Garboard strake?
Girders?
Grain bulkheads?
Gudgeons?
Gunwale?
Gutters?
Half beams?
Hatches—how many—where—names? Booby hatch?
Hawse pipes? Clearing hawse?
Heeling?
Hogging?
Hydraulic derricks—principle?
Insulation of holds?
Isherwood system of framing?
Jogged framing?
Jib-booms?
Keel—kind, plate, bilge?
Keelson? Where—why?
Knighthead frame?
Lapped joints?
Launching—how done?
Limbers—limber boards?
Lloyd's—register—rules?
Load line?
Longitudinal bulkheads—framing?
Manholes—where—why?
Margin plates?
Masts—caps—coats—holes—partners—steps—stiffeners— telescopic—wedges? Bending forces—Buckling—failure—material— painting interior—rake—strength of?
Natural draft?
Neutral axis of a beam?
Oil fuel—flash point?
Oxy-acetylene blow pipe—how used?
Paints—what kind used aboard ship—how mixed? Where stowed—How much used? What surface will gallon cover? How long in applying?
Panting—what is it—have you noticed it at sea, etc.?
Peak tanks—fore peak—what stowed there?
Pillars—stations, etc? Their function?
Pintles?
Plating—how thick—how joined?
Portland cement—same as hydraulic—what uses?
Pratigue—what is it?
Propellers—how many—what kind—pitch—motion?
Pressure—steam—in deck lines—main boilers—donkey boilers—water pressure—under bottom?
Pumps—where are hand pumps—what will they throw—do they work?
Quadrant tiller—how connected to steering engine?
Red lead—use of?
Relieving tackles for steering gear—how rove?
Rigging—chain plates—screws—spread of—strength of?
Rivets—in what kind of shear? Pitch—strength?
Rolling chocks (bilge keels)?
Rudder—angle of—balanced, or not—cross head—how supported?
Sanitary tanks—where located—how filled?
Scuppers where located? Are those on deck house tops clear?
Scantlings—what do they include?
Shaft—bearings—stools—tube—tunnel?
Sheathing—wood—copper?
Sheer?
Shell plating?
Skylights?
Sounding pipes—rods—how marked—how used?
Spar deck?
Sponsons?
Steel strength of—tensile—shearing—compressive?
Stem?
Steering gear—learn all about it.
Stem—ordinary—cruiser?
Stoke holds (fire rooms)?
Stress?
Strain?
Stringers? Duty of?
Surveys—purpose—by whom?
Sweating—cork paint?
Tail shaft—where—after gland—what?
Tanks—how lined—where?
Thrust block?
Ventilation—how accomplished—natural or blower?
Vibration?—note it at sea.
Water ballast—part of tank data?
Water line?
Water-tight doors—where—how managed?
Well decks?
Winches?
Yards—if any?
Zincs—what used for—why?

A young officer must become an enthusiast about a vessel; everything on board must be known to him, if he cares to rise in his profession.

CHAPTER XIV
CADETS

Under the laws establishing an ocean mail service certain vessels so engaged are required to carry cadets.

Excerpts from this law follow:

"OCEAN MAIL SERVICE

"Said vessels shall take, as cadets or apprentices, one American-born boy, under twenty-one years of age for each one thousand tons gross register, and one for each majority fraction thereof, who shall be educated in the duties of seamanship, rank as petty officers, and receive such pay for their services as may be reasonable."

The system of carrying cadets is sound in principle, but in many instances the law has been carried out according to a peculiar interpretation of the phrase "Shall be educated in the duties of seamanship."

Education is a term of wide meaning, but "seamanship" or the "Duties of Seamanship" is at least fairly definite. The whole cadet system should be put upon a definite basis of regular instruction, or else be done away with.

Many of us can remember a scouting party hurrying across West Street to pick up a "cadet" or two, so the good ship could go to sea in full compliance with the law.