However, better days are dawning for the men of the sea; official recognition of the seaman, is carrying with it certain requirements as to real ability. Higher standards bring with them increased respect and less friction between officers and men. No mate, worthy of the name, will find fault with a man who can "surge" a ten-inch manila line when springing a vessel around a pier, or who can turn a splice into a wire mooring line—any seaman worthy of his pay should be able to do such things and many others—the official standards, as set forth in a Department of Commerce circular follow:
ABLE SEAMEN
Department of Commerce Circular No. 264
By virtue of the authority conferred by section 13, of the act approved March 4, 1915, which provides "That upon examination, under rules prescribed by the Department of Commerce as to eyesight, hearing, physical condition, and knowledge of the duties of seamanship a person found competent may be rated as able seaman after having served on deck twelve months at sea, or on the Great Lakes," the following regulations are prescribed for determining the knowledge of the duties of seamanship of such persons who make application for examination for a certificate of service as able seaman:
1. Any person who has had twelve months' service on deck at sea or on the Great Lakes on any vessel of 100 tons gross and upward (except those navigating rivers exclusively and the smaller inland lakes, and except fishing or whaling vessels or yachts), including decked fishing vessels, naval vessels, and coast-guard vessels, may make application to any board of local inspectors for a certificate of service as able seaman, and upon proof being made to said board by affidavit as to service, and examination as to physical condition and knowledge of the duties of seamanship, showing the nationality and age of the applicant and the vessel or vessels on which he has had service, the board of local inspectors shall issue to said applicant a certificate of service which shall be retained by him and be accepted as prima facie evidence of his rating as able seaman.
2. No person shall be examined who does not produce satisfactory affidavit or affidavits that he has served at sea or on the Great Lakes as prescribed in paragraph 1.
3. Each applicant shall pass the prescribed physical examination before a medical officer of the Public Health Service before being permitted to take the examination to determine his knowledge of the duties of seamanship.
4. The professional examination to determine the applicant's knowledge of the duties of seamanship shall be oral, and shall be conducted in the form of questions and answers and by practical tests. The applicant shall be examined in each of the prescribed subjects and given a mark in each based on a scale of 100.
5. No person shall be recommended for or shall receive the certificate of service as able seaman who fails to attain a general average of merit of 70 per cent.
6. The professional examination may be conducted by an officer of the United States Navy, the Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Navigation Service, or any other marine officer designated by the Secretary of Commerce. When any such officer conducts the examination the board of local inspectors shall issue to the applicant a certificate of service as able seaman upon receiving notice in writing from such an officer that the applicant has passed the prescribed examination as to the knowledge of the duties of seamanship.
7. The professional examination will be conducted as concisely as possible, with the view of determining the applicant's qualifications, and will embrace the following subjects: