The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-11-23

when making or leaving port and in
foul weather.
The first officer, or "the" mate--as
he is called, though the ship may
carry three or even four mates-is In
cluded in the first section of the ship
ping boards working rules for officers,
which specifies that mo mate shall
be required or permitted to take charge
of n watch upon leaving or Immediate
ly after leaving port, unless he shall
have had Mt least six hours off duty
within the IL hours Immediately pre-
ceding the time of sailing"
This rule applies to all mates. and
guards against these officers begin
ming the work of a voyage when ia
tigued for want of sleep. Incidentally
1t gives a mate time to say farewell
to his family, IL they live In or near
the port of departure.
The rules further provide that n
mate shall work when In port from
8 a. M. to 5 p. m, with n hour out
for dinner, and that for any other
work he may do he shall receive extra
compensation, which is specified to
cover work done on Sundays, nights
and holidays.
Provision is also made for extra pay
for work performed "off watch"-that
is, i'm a mates own time-at ea.
When boarding ashore, a mate is al
lowed $1.50 a day for his meals, and
the captain $3.50 a day.
No More ~"Donkey's Breakfasts"
To the older generation of sailors
one of the most striking features Of
the shipping boards rules is a provi-
sion applying to vessels operated by
the board specifying that the ship must
provide bedding for the crew. The
new rule spells the knell on these YES
sells of the traditional "donkey's
breakfast'-a bedstack of corr husks
or hay-that always formed part of
Jacks "dunnage' In the old days. This
usually was accompanied by II hand
made patchwork quilt, If the. sailor
was a home man, or a slaZy cotton
blanket or two If he fitted out" In a
waterside slopshop.
THIS bedding was put into a wooden
bunk, often greasy from long occupa'
tion and usually infested with yer
min and ON such a couch the sailor
slept on his voyage.
Today the law and the shipping
boards regulations provide for a
standard type of bed and bedding for
the sailor. The bed Is of iron pipe.
painted, with a steel spring, or a slung
canvas bottom. This bed Is sanitary,
as 1t has no cracks or loose joints In
which vermin may breed.
Rules of the shipping board provide
that mattress and pillow with covers,
colored spread and sufficient blaQkets
shall be furnished by the owners for
each member of the crew." The only
responsibility of the sailor In conneo
tion with his bed Is to keep II clean
and see that his bedding is not lost.
Separate messrooms for the crew
and the firemen are required under the
rules, and both are provided with a
clean, well ventilated Mushroom with
basins, and a bath. All the new ships
turned out by the Emergency Fleet
corporation have excellent shower
bath facilities for freroom forces and
crew.
"Ail Hands on Deck" Still Stands.
/, While the number and specific char
acter of the rules and regulations
under which American sailors of today
work would have been beyond the
comprehension of the early American
s~eafarer, there are some basic princit
pies Of practice at sea that have not
been changed.
1t is true today, as 1t has always
been, that one order not subject t.
modification is: "All hands on deck L
In other words, any work required fol
the safety of a vessel, It's cargo, pass
engers or crew, must be done at any
time 1t is called for by the captain
and Is not affected by ordinary regu
lations governing hours and extra com
pensation. Every deck officer ant