The ranges given by it may be compared with those of service powder of known good quality under the same circumstances. If deficient in strength, the quantity of the charges should be increased until the ranges are equalized, in order that the sight-bars may still indicate the proper elevations for each charge and distance.
156. It is directed that vessels of war shall always receive their powder and loaded shells in the stream; unless, upon some great emergency, the nature of which shall be reported to the Bureau, it is deemed essential to put them on board at the Navy Yard.
157. When receiving or landing powder, the red flag is to be always hoisted at the fore, and all proper precautions taken to guard against accidents from fires and lights. The tanks should be passed through the ports most convenient to the magazines, and landed on mats, to prevent injury.
The red flag is always to be hoisted at the powder-houses when they are opened, and kept flying until they are closed.
158. When avoidable, gunpowder is not to be sent from vessels to powder-houses, nor from powder-houses to vessels, in wet weather, nor when there is a probability of wetting the barrels or cases; and the packages must be conveyed in covered boats or wagons showing a red flag.
159. The wharf or landing-place must be spread with old canvas, so that the barrels or cases may not come in contact with and convey sand or gravel to the powder-house. The barrels must not be rolled, but carried in slings to the trucks running on tramways of either wood or bronze, into the magazine.
160. The service charges for the different calibres and classes of naval smooth-bore guns now used in the Navy are as follows, and the cartridges are to be filled accordingly, viz.:
Service Charges for Naval Guns.
| Ordnance. | Charges of Navy Powder. | Diameter of Cartridge-Gauge. | Saluting Charges, No. 50. | |||
| Calibre. | Weight. | For distant firing, 0.1 | For ordinary firing, 0.6 | For near firing or two projectiles, 0.3 | ||
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | Cylindrical. | lbs. | ||
| X-inch or 130-pounder | 16,000 lbs. | 30. | 18. | 15. | 9.00 inches. | 6. |
| 64-pounder | 106 cwt. | 16. | 12. | 8. | 7.00 inches. | 4. |
| 32-pounder | 61 cwt. | 10. | 8. | 6. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 57 cwt. | 9. | 8. | 6. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 51 cwt. | 8. | 7. | 5. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 46 cwt. | 7 | 7. | 5. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 42 cwt. | 6. | 6. | 4. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 33 cwt. | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4. | 5.50 inches. | 4. |
| 32 do. | 27 cwt. | 4. | 4. | 3. | 5.50 inches. | 3. |
| Shell-guns | For near firing. | Conical. | ||||
| XV-inch | 42,000 lbs. | 50. | 35. | 35. | ||
| XI-inch | 15,700 lbs. | 20. | 15. | 15. | 11 × 5.5 × 11 | 7. |
| X-inch | 12,000 lbs. | 15. | 12.5 | 12.5 | 10 × 5. × 10 | 6. |
| IX-inch | 9,000 lbs. | 13. | 10. | 10. | 9 × 4.5 × 9 | 5. |
| 8-inch | 6,500 lbs. | 7. | 7. | 7. | 8 × 5. × 8 | 4. |
| 32-pounder | 4,500 lbs. | 6. | 6. | 6. | ||
| Cylindrical. | ||||||
| 8-inch | 63 cwt. | 9. | 8. | 6. | 5.50 | 4. |
| 8-inch | 55 cwt. | 7. | 7. | 6. | 5.50 | 4. |
N.B.—Two projectiles are not to be fired from any gun at the same time, except at objects within 200 yards' distance, and only when the advantages at the moment may be deemed by the Captain sufficient to justify the risk of injuring the guns and their equipments by the extra strain to which they will be exposed.