15. Pay special attention to the flanges on the steel strongbacks—are they true?
16. Get acquainted with the engineers and establish friendly relations—this is important.
17. Locate all sounding pipes—Have carpenter sound tanks and bilges and report.
THE WORK OF THE CHIEF MATE
Having reported for duty, and having seen to the matters outlined above—and a smart Chief Mate sees such things quickly, for he must by that time have spent more than a dog watch in the Merchant Service—the new Chief Mate can intelligently carry on the work of his vessel.
Different Vessels. Differences in construction, type, tonnage, and trade, modify the size and kind of organization on board a steamer. But in the main essentials, the work of the Chief Mate should be fairly standard—he is charged with the supervision of everything that has to do with the work of the deck department.
Crew. The Chief Mate should study his junior officers and his crew. He should at once check up the crew list; see that the living quarters on board—including coal passers, firemen, and glory hole—are in a sanitary and ship shape condition. He should see after everything having to do with the sanitary condition of the vessel. Wash rooms, water closets, showers, lockers, mess rooms, etc. All should be inspected daily.
Station Bill. The Chief Mate should see that the Station Bill is properly made out, and posted as required by law.
Inventories. The materials and tools of the deck department come under the immediate charge of the Chief Mate who should see that all inventories are correctly kept, and that the stores list is properly posted up from time to time. The correct list of unbroken ship's stores is very important, and must be produced when the vessel enters the customs.
The following lists should be kept and checked under the supervision of the Chief Mate: