Vessels of over 1,000 and not over 3,000 gross tons, 40 gallons.
Vessels of over 3,000 and not over 5,000 gross tons, 50 gallons.
Vessels of over 5,000 gross tons shall carry at least 100 gallons.
+General.+ The modern ship carpenter is as much a worker with iron and steel as he is with wood. His duty requires that he be familiar with machinery—and his special charge is the braking and releasing of the windlass, under the direction of the Chief Mate.
A top-notch carpenter is a jewel, he is a scarce article in these degenerate days of high wages and indifferent performance.
A good artisan can do no better than to go to sea as a carpenter in a well-found modern steamer; the pay is good he will have comfortable quarters, and good food, he will also save money. This holds true of most billets aboard a merchant vessel today.
The Boatswain, for a long time was not in favor on American vessels, this prejudice being a survival of the hard old sailing-ship days, after America had ceased to be great with her white wings.
The cheese-paring policy of many owners denied the common sense arrangement of having a Boatswain—a leading man of the crew—to do the actual roustabout with the men in holds and on deck. The Mates were supposed to attend to such matters, and while they juggled hose, and did other energetic, but senseless duties, other matters of far greater importance went undone.
Owners are now generally alive to the fact that a Boatswain makes the Chief Mate about ten times as useful as an officer. He can plan work, attend to his duties and inspections, while such matters as washing decks, mixing paints, standing over gangs of chippers, or side cleaners, goes on without interruption under the Boatswain.
The Duty of the Boatswain is so closely associated with the duty of the Chief Mate, that it is more or less a matter of repetition to enumerate just what he is supposed to look after.
Under the Chief Mate, the Boatswain works the men; if in a large vessel, with the assistance of a Boatswain's Mate. At sea, the watches are divided between the Boatswain and his Mate.
The Boatswain should be something more than an able seaman, as the term is known today. Steamers do not carry a sailmaker, and the Boatswain should be able to sew a seam, sew on a bolt rope, and fit and cut an awning, or a staysail.