DIAGRAMS TO ILLUSTRATE THE MANAGEMENT OF SHIPS AT SINGLE ANCHOR.

Fig. I.-Represents a ship lying head to wind and tide, in which case all that is required is to give her a slight sheer to keep her steady.

Fig. II. This is the same ship swinging when the weather tide begins to make-the first of the tide having taken her on the starboard quarter and canted her with the port side to the wind. As soon as she begins to cant set the fore-topmast-staysail sheet to windward; when she brings the wind abaft the beam, let the staysail sheet draw and brace all yards forward, and steer her taut ahead of her anchor; when the wind comes aft or on the starboard quarter, bring her to gradually with the starboard helm, haul down the staysail, brace the head yards by, and put the helm hard a-starboard. She will then be in the position indicated by Fig. III.

Fig. III.-Riding weather tide with the wind on the port quarter and the anchor on the starboard quarter. If the first of the tide had taken her on the port quarter, she would have to be forged ahead with the wind on the starboard side, in which case she would lie with the helm a-port on the opposite side of the anchor to No. I. When the weather tide slacks, set the fore-topmast-staysail, and tend the helm, keeping her taut ahead of her anchor until she resumes the place of No. I again. On the lee tide haul down the staysail when she comes head to wind.

Fig. IV. Has anchored with the wind blowing across the tide, and a shoal on her starboard side. The rule is when the wind is before the beam, the ship lays to leeward of her anchor; and when the wind is abaft the beam she lays to windward of her anchor. In the case of No. IV the wind is right abeam, in which case a ship is usually laid to leeward with the yards all braced aback, and the staysail set with the sheet to windward; there is also a shoal near her, and the rule in that case is to sheer towards the danger if the ship will lie that way, so that if she breaks her sheer she may go from the danger. But if a ship is riding near a shoal on a lee-tide it is safer to sheer from the danger, lest the combined force of wind and tide should start the anchor, and drive her on the shoal. In the case of No. IV, and the wind

veering aft, the ship must be set ahead of her anchor by filling the yards, and hauling the lee staysail sheet aft, and steering her taut ahead of her anchor through the positions of Nos. V and VI, until you get her laid to windward in the position of No. VII.

If No. IV should not be set ahead when the wind veers aft, she will break her sheer, and perhaps foul her anchor. See Nos. VIII and IX. The same thing will happen with No. III if the wind should haul on the starboard quarter, unless she is set ahead and laid at the opposite side of her anchor as soon as the wind begins to change.

Fig. VIII.-Represents a ship in the same position as No. IV, with the wind veering aft. No. IX is the same vessel just after she has broken her sheer. In this case a ship goes across to the opposite side of her anchor, and must be kept there by changing the helm to leeward, and hauling the main-yard forward, keeping the fore-yard braced by. In all cases the mizzen-yards are laid the same as the main-yard.

When a ship is riding on a weather tide in blowing weather, she should be very carefully watched, lest she should break her sheer, and foul her anchor, or break the chain. The mate should be called immediately whenever the wind changes; and when the tide slackens he should be called before the ship begins to cant, or else he will be too late to manœuvre the ship properly in swinging.

In moderate weather a ship will often require more sail than the fore-topmast-staysail to take her across clear of her anchor; in these cases the jib and main-topmast-staysail should be set.

MATE'S DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Q.-What would you do on first joining a ship?

A.-Report myself to the master, if he is on board.

Q. What then?

Have the chafing If there is time, ends are properly

A. Have a general overhaul of all standing and running gear, especially such parts as are liable to be chafed. mats off, and renew them where necessary. rouse up the chain cables, and see that the stoppered, and that there are no faulty links nor worn shackle bolts.

Q.-The ship is loaded: what would you be careful to see to before going to sea?

A.-That the hatches are properly secured, the pumps in good order, and the lead line is all right.

Q.-Where would you be stationed in going to sea? and why? A.-At the bows, to let go an anchor at a moment's notice, if required.

Q.-At sea: a gale of wind has been blowing for the last few days and has now passed off, what would you do?

A.-Examine everything aloft, to see if anything is chafed, &c., and sound the pumps.

Q.-What are the mate's duties with respect to the receipt and discharge of cargo?

A. To take account of cargo as it comes on board, or is discharged; and to give receipts to persons who bring it, and get receipts from those who bring it away.

Q. What clause would you insert in the receipts you give for cargo ?

A.-"This receipt to be null and void when bills of lading are signed."

Q.-Taking in cargo from lighters, they come off irregularly, what would you do?

A.-Note the time that one finished, and the time the next commenced.

Q. What would you do on receiving the goods from the lighter?

A.-Keep tally, and if all is right sign one of the boat notes brought off by the man in charge and keep the other.

Q.-You are discharging cargo into a lighter.
A.-Get a receipt from the man in charge of her.

Q.-Some of the goods sent off to you are in a damaged state. A.-Call the master's attention to them before giving a receipt, so that he may use his discretion about receiving them.

Q.-Suppose any part of the cargo to be slightly damaged, such as marks defaced on a package, hoops off a butter cask, &c. A.-Note the fact on the receipt given to the person who brought the cargo.

Q.-If the dammage be serious?

A.-Refuse to take it in: call the master's attention to it. Q.-The master signs bills of lading in the belief that the mate's account is correct, what would you do, or otherwise, in order that you may keep a correct account?

A.-Attend to nothing else, but keep account while taking in cargo or discharging it.

Q.-A cartload of goods are laid on the quay alongside of your ship, you give a receipt to the cartman for them, who is then responsible for them?

A.-My owner.

Q.-You go some distance from the ship for a raft of timber, or a lighter of grain, and you give receipts for the goods, who is then responsible for them?

A.-My owner.

Q.-What is your duty with reference to these goods?

A.-To take every care of them and get them on board as soon as convenient.

Q. What is your duty with respect to purchases for the cargo? A.-To have all purchases, and everything connected with taking in or discharging cargo, in good order.

NOTE.-The mate should be careful to take the marks and numbers of the goods, and note them in the cargo book.

Q.-Coming on deck to relieve the watch at night, what are the first things you would do?

A.-First see that my side lights are burning bright, next who is on the look out, then relieve the watch.

Q.-It is your watch, what would you do?

A.-Pay particular attention to master or chief mate's orders. Keep a good look-out myself, and see that others do the same. Be particular with the pumps. At night time be very careful to have the ship's lights in order.

Q-What is the second mate's duty when in charge of the anchor watch?

A. See that the anchor light is burning bright, that the watch were keeping a good look-out, and call the mate or pilot when the ship swings, if ordered to do so, and to be sure that the ship is not driving.

Q.-As mate of the ship, what precautions would you take when riding at single anchor?

I

A.-Leave orders to be called when the tide slackens, so that may be sure the ship swings clear of her anchor.