PREFACE.
It has been repeatedly represented to me by disinterested friends, that among the innumerable works of both fact and fiction dealing with the sea, there are none telling in a comprehensive way what are the conditions of life in the Merchant Service; in other words, that there is no work to which a parent, yielding to his son's importunity to be allowed to go to sea, and seeking to know something of the nature of things on board of a merchant ship in detail, can turn with the assurance that he may there find what he needs. Nor can the youth anxious to go to sea in the Merchant Service find any guidance which will at once be comprehensive and reliable compacted into one handy volume. And as these same friends have done me the honour to suggest that I have the qualifications necessary for producing such a work, I have, not at all unwillingly, acceded to their suggestions, and undertaken the task.
The recollection of many kindly criticisms on the preface to the "Log of a Sea-Waif," scolding me good-naturedly for what it has pleased them to term my exaggerated modesty, prevents me from sinning now in that direction. I will merely say that I have done my best to justify my friends' confidence in me, and that I earnestly hope the book will not fall too far short of their expectations.
The planning of such a work seems to be comparatively easy. The first thing that suggested itself was the setting forth, in a series of chapters, the duties, required qualifications, difficulties, privileges, etc., of the various members of a ship's company.
A doubt has naturally arisen in my mind as to how far it is justifiable to deal with sailing ships in these latter days. My own personal knowledge and predilections are on the side of the "wind-jammer," and consequently I feel the less inclined to deal with her perfunctorily. I cannot, however, conceal from myself the fact that the passing of the sailing ship is being greatly accelerated of late years, and that in all probability another twenty years will witness her final disappearance. On the other hand, I should not be at all surprised to see a sudden recrudescence of sailing ship building. Considering the sailing ship's economy, her vast carrying capacity, the fact that her very slowness as compared with the steamer is actually no mean advantage in a great number of instances, viz. to quote one, where goods are bought in a low market and are not required by the buyer for some months, so that their shipment by a sailer actually saves warehouse charges as well as freight—I cannot understand why the sailer should be suffered to disappear. Nevertheless, as engineering science advances, economies will doubtless be found possible in steamships which will so greatly lessen their expenses as to make the competition of sailers out of the question. The opening of a Panama Canal, too, which will certainly not be much longer delayed, will deal a tremendous blow at the vast sailing trade around Cape Horn. It seems, indeed, destined to be the final factor in the elimination of the sailing ship. Meanwhile the white-winged fleets come and go in far greater numbers than landsmen have any idea of; and as nearly all authorities are agreed that, in spite of the immense strides taken by steam navigation, the sailing ship is still the only school wherein to train a thorough seafarer, she will certainly receive her full need of attention here.
Care has been taken to avoid, as far as possible, all technical treatment of the subject. I have not assumed the possession of too much nautical knowledge on the part of my prospective readers; not nearly as much, for instance, as would be permissible in a work of fiction. Having before me, too, the hope that sons as well as parents will be able to read and enjoy, as well as thoroughly grasp the meaning of this book, I have aimed at making it entertaining, giving a plentiful supply of anecdotes as well to illustrate as to lighten what might easily become rather "stodgy."
Finally, I feel constrained to add that, even if my friends are wrong, and there are works with which they, as well as myself, are not acquainted, better calculated to serve the purpose for which this book is intended, I have the temerity to believe that no apology is necessary for its appearance. The overwhelming importance of our over-sea commerce to Great Britain cannot be too greatly emphasized, while the astounding ignorance of maritime matters manifested by British people generally makes one gasp in amazement. Any book, therefore, that does anything to popularize knowledge of Mercantile Marine details cannot be superfluous in this country; and should this present one succeed in bringing home to our inland dwellers with any clearness the conditions of life on board the vessels upon whose regular advent depend our supplies of daily food, I shall feel abundantly justified in issuing it to my countrymen.
Dulwich,
July, 1900.
SYNOPSIS.
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| THE RISE OF THE MASTER (IDEAL). | |
| PAGE | |
| Magnitude of the Merchant Service—Ignorance of its detailsashore—Want of information upon the subject—Popularityof sea-fiction—And unreliability of its details—"Master" or"Captain"—Cadet ships—Their value—The way up (ideal) | [1] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| THE RISE OF THE MASTER (REAL). | |
| Apprentice difficulties—Sketch of an officer's progress—Lookingfor a ship—Classification of masters—Range betweenAtlantic "liner" and foreign-going schooner—Enviableposition of the master of a "liner"—Pilots' responsibility—Reliableofficers—But the master is emperor—All responsibilitycentres in him | [9] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| THE MASTER (OF A TRAMP). | |
| Tramp masters—Less pay, more work—Hardships of tramps—Economicalowners—Anxious considerations—And all-roundqualifications—The aristocracy of tramps—Shoreberths for old skippers—Black sheep | [18] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| THE MASTER (SAILING SHIPS). | |
| Sailing ships—Their gradations—The beauty of seamanshipin Sunda Straits—Ship handling and pluck—Devilishships—Local knowledge v. "book larnin'"—The Horn—"Swanseamen"—A glorious old skipper—Overdue ships—Mediocrities | [26] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| THE MASTER (SAILING SHIP)—continued. | |
| The skipper's temptations—His power over young officers—Paintingv. sailorizing—And the result—Various temperamentsof skippers—The discipline of the "Yank"—And ofthe "Blue-nose"—Their seamanship—The "Down Easter"—TheYankee clipper—His passion for cleanliness—Andbrutality—Elementary methods | [36] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| THE MASTER'S QUALITIES. | |
| The personal equation—An ideal commander—Want of tact—Theydo these things better in "Yanks"—Good to have ahobby—High standard of excellence—Difficulties of theBritish shipmaster with respect to his crew—Unpalatabletruths—The fear of God—Honesty of shipmasters—Incitementsto dishonesty | [45] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| THE MASTER'S DUTIES. | |
| A glimpse of navigation—The unstable compass—Dead reckoning—Pilotageanxieties—The shipmaster as trustee—As lawyer—Asdoctor—Rough-and-ready surgery—A true hero—The"malingerer" | [53] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| THE MASTER'S DUTIES—continued. | |
| Voluntary duties—Knowledge of engineering—Of ship construction—Ofnatural history—The danger of drink—A drunkardor two—A memorable voyage—The Blue-nose skipper—Hisall-round excellence | [63] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| THE MATE. | |
| The "mate and his duties"—An ancient and honourable title—Hisrange of importance—A long step from mate to master—Bothin position and pay—Education of British officers—Examinations | [73] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| THE MATE'S WORK. | |
| A good mate precious above rubies—Some difficulties of theyoung mate—Sensitiveness—Manager of a large business—Agreat gulf between tramp and liner for the mate—Lowwages—Difficult generalship—A scandalous miscarriage ofjustice—Again better in the "Yank"—Compensations | [82] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| THE MATE'S WORK (IN A SAILING SHIP). | |
| Peculiarities of status—The excellence of the sailing-shipmate—"Humouring" a ship—Care of her aloft—The mate's right-handman—Keeping them at it—The joy of a good sailingship—A happy mate—Keeping the log | [91] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| THE MATE'S WORK (IN A SAILING SHIP)—continued. | |
| Ideal log-book literature—Ruffianly mates—But splendid seamen—A"nigger-driver"—The mate as cargo clerk and warehouseman—Histemptations—An exultant Hebrew—Thedrink question again—The mate's privileges | [101] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| THE SECOND MATE (IN STEAM). | |
| "Hazing" a second mate—His importance—His assuredexcellence in a liner—Careful selection—Really first lieutenantin a liner—But in the tramp "a servant of servantsshall he be"—An upper housemaid—An anomalous position—Asstevedore—The Yankee second mate | [112] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| THE SECOND MATE (FIRST STEPS). | |
| The passing of the "Board"—School-boy work—Theoreticalnavigation—Practical seamanship—Colour-blindness—Queerinstruction—A kindly examiner—The astonishment of theschoolmaster—Only mate—And "bo'sun-second-mate" | [121] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| THE SECOND MATE (OF A SAILING SHIP). | |
| The difference between steam and sail—A kindly skipper for abeginner—The second mate's position as pupil—The seamyside—Everybody's dog—Again the difference between lime-juicerand Yank—The second mate of the East Lothian—Oh,what a surprise!—The value of muscle—The want ofdiscipline in our ships | [131] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| THE THIRD MATE. | |
| Of great importance or none at all—A suggestion from the Navy—Norespect due to him—The owner's pet—The poopornament—His bringing up—A lost opportunity—The bullythird mate of an American ship—An error in judgment—Idlers | [142] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| THE BO'SUN. | |
| A romantic figure—Rough but genuine—The naval bo'sun—Theworking foreman—Bo'sun and "lamps" combined—Theold-time bo'sun—A thorough sailor—A queer bo'sun—Abroken-down bo'sun—A brevet bo'sun | [151] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| THE CARPENTER. | |
| His general excellence—And unique position—A man of manyqualifications—All carpenters in British North America—Asin Finland—"Chips" and sailor too—An independentmember—Always plenty of work—The whaleship carpenters—Andboat-builder | [161] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| THE SAILMAKER. | |
| An occupation that is passing—Its fascination for good sailors—Theart and mystery of sailmaking—The Yankee sailmaker—Hiscontempt for British sails—Like the carpenter, thesailmaker always has plenty to do—The beauty of sails | [171] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| THE STEWARD (IN STEAM). | |
| Wide range of status—But always a steward—Wonderfulcolspan="2" align="center"management—A small army to control—Work never done—Thetramp steward—His duties and difficulties—The"providore" | [180] |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| THE STEWARD (SAILING SHIPS). | |
| The passenger sailing ship almost extinct—Consequently fewchief stewards in sail—The responsible steward—Thecaptain's pet—Funny little ways—A bitter experience—TheYankee steward—His onerous post—The stewardess—Myfriend's pathetic story | [188] |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| THE COOK (IN STEAM). | |
| The most interesting figure on board ship—A chef indeed—Wheredo they come from?—Difficulties of ship cookery—Underthe best conditions—Careful, hard-working men—Australiancooks—Black Sam—Humpy Bill—His tribulationsand triumphs—The cook of a tramp | [195] |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| THE COOK (SAILING SHIPS). | |
| His materials—His usual qualifications—No room for a goodcook—Good sailing ships—And bad—From the food pointof view—Bad food wasteful as well as dear—The cravingfor vegetable—The cook's day's work—So different inYankee ships—Blue-nose cookery—"Cracker hash"—"Duff" | [205] |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| THE COOK (SAILING SHIPS)—continued. | |
| Salt junk—The never-satisfied sailor—Pork and peas—Dirtycooking—Abysmal ignorance—A lower depth—Bad weather | [215] |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| THE APPRENTICE (SUGGESTIONS). | |
| A serious matter—Want of knowledge—The system of apprenticeship—Needfor revision—The influx of foreign officers—Nowant of aspirants here—An experience of my own—No-premiumapprentices—Training ships—The housing of seaapprentices—A vexed question—To stop the waste of youngseamen—An A.B. no mere labourer—A good example—Amodel ship for apprentices—Training ships in America | [223] |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| THE APPRENTICE (SOME FACTS CONCERNING HIS LIFE). | |
| The average boy's helplessness—The need for lessons in homelythings—An unhappy home—Waste of outfit—Need ofpersonal supervision—And honest treatment—Apprenticessubstituted for sailors—Some instances—All depends uponthe master—Wasted years—The embryo officer in the U.S.and Canada | [234] |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] | |
| THE APPRENTICE (SOME PRACTICAL INFORMATION). | |
| How to get your boy to sea—Beware of the apprenticeshipbroker—A typical instance—Some hints as to outfit—A listof necessaries—The choice of a ship—Personal relations ofparents with officers—Hints to apprentices themselves | [244] |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] | |
| THE A.B. (GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS). | |
| The "common sailor"—His one-sided view of things—Hisdifficulties—The reading sailor—Argumentative qualities—Hisshyness ashore—The religious sailor—Misconceptions ofhis duties—Hardships of good men from the shipment ofduffers—The skilled A.B., some of his duties—The "steamboatsailor"—One instance | [253] |
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] | |
| THE A.B. (HIS ROUTINE). | |
| Some details fixed—Others varying indefinitely according to thewill of the master—The incidence of watches—Difference ofwork in steamships and sailing vessels—No easy times inAmerican ships—Keeping them "at it"—Wheel and look-outcase in point | [263] |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] | |
| THE A.B. (HIS POSITION). | |
| Putting a premium on incompetency—The steamship partly toblame—Are we getting lazy?—The need for a Naval Reserve?Why does the Reserve languish?—Not a bad life after all—Plentyof British seamen to be got—But they must havediscipline | [276] |
| [CHAPTER XXXI.] | |
| THE O.S. (ORDINARY SEAMAN). | |
| His elimination—No system—Many better than A.B.'s in thesame ship—A typical instance—An O.S.'s duties—A pieceof technical detail, crossing a royal yard—His position inthe fo'c'sle—"A servant of servants shall he be"—A rough-and-readyway out | [283] |
| [CHAPTER XXXII.] | |
| THE BOY. | |
| A romantic figure—Changed conditions—The bad old days—Bettertreatment forward than aft—The unfair change for aboy from the training ship to the trading ship—Cleanlinessbarred—Bad advice—What to do for him—Running awayto sea—An old-time shipping office—Small ships, bad andgood | [294] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII.] | |
| THE ENGINEER. | |
| Need for literary engineers—A noble calling—Its perils and itspride—No sea-joys for the engineer—A nineteenth-centuryhero—A unique profession—Producing a high-grade man—Theevolution of the marine engineer—No foreigners allowed—TheE.R.A.—In case of war—No mere mechanic—Theblindness of the Admiralty with regard to the engineer | [305] |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV.] | |
| THE FIREMAN AND TRIMMER. | |
| Why do men become firemen?—A terrible calling—Some of hisduties—The voice of steam—Better drunk—Cleaning fires—Theslavery of civilization—A lower deep—Are wenearing finality? | [317] |
| [CHAPTER XXXV.] | |
| CONCLUSION. | |
| Pertinent questions—The whole truth—Does magnanimityanswer?—The peril of the alien—No Trade Union forsailors—The officer's chance—A valuable educational factor—Ournational safeguard—Finis | [328] |