lives in the steerage with the other petty officers, has charge of the ship's chest of tools, and in all things connected with his trade is under the sole direction of the master.[1]
Sail-maker. Almost all ships of the largest class carry a sail-maker, although usually the older seamen are sufficiently skilled in the trade to make and mend sails, and the master or chief mate should know how to cut them out. With regard to the duties of the sail-maker, the same remarks apply to him that were made upon the carpenter. If the sail-maker ships also for seaman, he must do an able seaman's duty, if called upon; and if he does not so ship, he will still be required to assist in all-hands work, according to his ability; and in bad weather, or in case of necessity, he may be put with a watch, and required to do ship's duty with the rest. In all-hands work he is mustered with either watch, according to circumstances. He usually lives in the steerage[2] with the carpenter, and always, like him, takes his food from
- ↑ The chief mate has no authority over the carpenter in his trade, except in the case of the master's absence or disability. In all things pertaining to the working of the vessel, however, and as far as he acts in the capacity of seaman, he must obey the orders of the officers as implicitly as any of the crew; though, perhaps, an order from the second mate would come somewhat in the form of a request. Nevertheless there is no doubt, in point of discipline, he must obey the second mate in his proper place, as much as he would the master in his. Although the carpenter lives in the steerage, he gets his food from the galley, from the same mess with the men in the forecastle, having no better or different fare in any respect, and he has no right on the quarter-deck, but must take his place on the forecastle with the common seamen. In many vessels, during fine weather and on long voyages, the carpenter stands no watch, but "sleeps in" at night, is called at daylight, and works all day at his trade.
- ↑ "Steerage" generally means the portion of the 'tween-decks just before the gun-room bulk-head in ships of war, and below the after hatchway in merchant vessels.
