as to trimming the yards, etc., though the chief mate is expected to look out for the head yards. Such is also the case in getting under way, and in coming to anchor, the master taking the entire personal control of everything, the officers acting under him in their respective stations.
Ordinary day's work,
how arranged.
In the ordinary day's work, however, the state of
things is somewhat different. Here the master does
not superintend personally, but gives general instructions
to the chief mate, whose duty it is to see
to their execution. In order to understand this
distinction, it is necessary to define the two great
divisions of duty and labour on shipboard. One
is the working and navigating of the vessel; that is,
the keeping and ascertaining the ship's position on
the ocean, directing her course, the making and
taking in sail, trimming the yards to the wind, and
the various nautical manœuvres and evolutions of
a vessel. The other branch is the work done upon
the hull and rigging to keep them in order, such as
fitting, repairing, and tarring the rigging; all of
which, together with the manufacture of "small stuffs,"
to be used on board, constitute a part of "the day's
work" of the crew. As to the latter, the master usually
confers with the chief mate upon the state of the
vessel and rigging, and tells him, more or less in
detail, what he wishes to have done. It then
becomes the duty of that officer to see the work
accomplished. If the master sees anything of which
he disapproves, or has any preference in the modes
of performing the work, he should convey his wishes
to the officer, instead of giving his orders direct to
the men. The Americans, as especially exhibited in
