EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

268. The officer next in rank to the commanding officer of a vessel is to be considered the executive officer.

269. He shall not be required to keep a watch, unless circumstances, in the judgment of the commander of the vessel, should render it necessary. When not compelled to keep a regular watch, he will be on duty from 6 o'clock a. m. until the watch is set at night.

270. When the commander of the vessel is not on deck, he may advise and direct the officer of the deck in the working and management of the vessel; and if, in his judgment, circumstances should make it necessary, he may take charge of the deck, stating his reasons for so doing to the commander.

271. He will exercise authority over all subordinate officers and others, and see that they vigilantly perform their duties, and that they conform to all orders for securing uniformity in the mode of executing them.

272. He shall inform himself of the capacity of each man on board, and of the stations they may have previously filled, that he may station them to the best advantage.

273. He shall require from the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, reports of the state of the vessel in their respective departments, at 8 o'clock in the evening, and at morning quarters.

274. He shall, at 8 o'clock in the evening, report the condition of the vessel to the commander, and receive any orders he may have for him. 275. He shall immediately report to the commander any defect or deficiency that may come to his knowledge, and which may in any manner endanger the safety or impair the efficiency of the vessel.

276. He is to correct, as far as his power extends, all abuses; and if he observes or has knowledge of any violation of the laws and regulations for the government of the service on the part of any person whomsoever, he is not to exercise any discretion in the matter, but to make immediate report to the commander.

277. Whenever the magazine is to be opened for receiving or discharging powder, he shall see, in person, that all of the prescribed precautions against accidents are rigidly observed.

278. In the absence of the commander he is to act in his stead, but is not to alter or change any of his regulations.

279. He shall cause a convenient locker to be prepared, in which the keys of the holds and all store-rooms shall be hung up, except those which instructions require to be kept in the charge of the commander of the vessel; it shall be his duty to see that all such keys are hung up at sunset, and that they are not taken away during the night without his knowledge, and that the keys of no store-room are ever taken out of the vessel.

280. He shall keep at hand a breaker of water, and a supply of provisions sufficient for the support of the crew of each quarter-boat for one

week, which will be placed in the boat whenever there is a probability of separation from the vessel, by fog or otherwise. The boat sails shall be kept in readiness for immediate use. If it shall be necessary to send a boat from the vessel at sea, he shall be careful that she is provided with a compass.

281. He will keep a correct muster-roll of the crew, and a descriptive list, and he will have charge of the liberty and conduct books. He will superintend the messing of the crew.

282. He will see that the officers keep correct copies of the watch, quarter, fire, and station bills; that the officers of divisions instruct the men under their command faithfully in their duties.

283. If from any cause he should be rendered incapable of performing his duties, they will devolve upon the line officer next below him in rank. 284. He shall, under the direction of the commanding officer of the vessel, have the superintendence of the general duties to be performed, and of the police of the vessel, and will be assisted by all the officers in their respective positions.

285. It shall be his duty, under the direction of the captain or commanding officer, to make out the watch, quarter, fire, mess, and station bills. He shall take care that all changes are noted on the several bills, and shall cause them to be placed in some convenient part of the vessel, where they may be referred to by the men and officers at all times. 286. He shall, under the direction of the commanding officer, control the expenditures of all stores; see them properly entered in the expenditure book, and in the weekly returns made to the captain, and take care that none are unnecessarily expended or wasted.

287. He shall take care that no person leaves the vessel without permission, and that all strange boats coming alongside of the vessel be reported to him by the officer in charge of the deck.

288. He shall have charge of the deck whenever the vessel is getting under way or coming to anchor, or when all hands are called for any special exercise or to perform particular duties, unless the commanding officer shall otherwise direct.

289. He shall see that the keys of the magazine, arm-chest, and storerooms are turned in to the captain's cabin, where they must be kept when not required for immediate use by order of the commanding officer.

290. He shall never absent himself from the vessel without the previous consent of the commanding officer, unless the latter be absent from the station on leave.

OFFICERS OF THE WATCH.

291. Each lieutenant attached to a revenue vessel of the United States shall have charge of a watch, except when, in the opinion of his commander, he shall be incompetent, or otherwise unfit for so important a charge. Whenever the commander shall deem it necessary to act in a

matter so serious as to deprive an officer of his watch, he shall forthwith report all the circumstances to the Secretary of the Treasury, and furnish the officer with a copy of the report.

292. The deck or watch is never to be left in charge of an officer of less rank than lieutenant, except by permission of the commanding officer.

293. On taking charge of a watch an officer is to make himself well acquainted with the position of the vessel with reference to all other vessels in sight, and to any land or danger that may be near, and with all orders that remain unexecuted. He shall hold no conversation with any one, except on duty, nor engage in any occupation which may distract his attention. He is to see that the men on deck are kept on the alert and attentive to their duty; that the lookouts are kept at their several stations and are obviously vigilant; that each sail set is kept properly spread and trimmed; and every precaution is observed to prevent accidents from squalls. Throughout his watch he is to be careful that the vessel is properly and duly steered; that a correct account is kept of her way and leeway; and that the courses and distances, together with every occurrence of importance and interest, and accident resulting in loss of any kind, are plainly and legibly entered on the deck-log, which log he is to sign, at the conclusion of his remarks, with his initials, on the termination of his watch.

294. He is to see that the subordinate officers of the watch are in their stations and attentive to their duties, and that they muster the men on deck when the other men are relieved from it, and as often afterward as he may judge necessary.

295. He is to be careful, at night, that the required lights are kept burning and are properly trimmed, and, in fogs, that the required signals are sounded. In approaching and passing vessels he is to be governed by the regulations for preventing collisions.

296. He is promptly to inform the commanding officer of all strange vessels that may be discovered; of any land, shoal, rock, or danger that may be made; of all changes of wind or weather; of all alterations of canvas or steam by the commanding officer of the squadron or division to which the vessel may belong; and, generally, of all occurrences worthy of notice.

297. He is never, on his own authority, to carry sail or steam so as to endanger spars or machinery; nor, when the commanding officer is on deck, is he ever to alter either without first consulting him.

298. He is never to change the given course without orders from the commanding officer, unless it may be necessary to do so to avoid danger, and then he shall report to him without delay.

299. He is not to make any signal without orders from the commander, unless to warn vessels of some danger; but he will see that everything is in readiness to make them by day or by night.

300. He shall give his attention that all officers, or others, coming on

board or leaving the ship, shall receive the marks of respect to which they are entitled.

301. No boat is to be allowed to leave the ship or come alongside without the knowledge of the officer of the deck. When boats or tenders come alongside with provisions, water, or stores of any kind, he is to see them cleared without delay, and that no prohibited articles are brought on board; and that all articles which may be ordered to be sent out of the vessel are carefully and properly put on board the vessel or boats which are directed to receive them..

302. When boats leave the ship he shall be particular to see that they have their proper crews, are suitably clothed, and that no man not belonging to a boat shall take the place of one who does, without the authority of the executive officer.

303. He shall take care that a strict and accurate account is taken of all stores received on board, or sent from the vessel during his watch, and see that those which are received are delivered in charge of the proper officer, and that the number or quantity received or sent from the vessel is correctly entered on the log-slate.

304. He shall never cause the engines of a steam-vessel to be stopped without first slowing them, nor to be worked at full speed until the vessel has first gathered way, except in cases of great emergency.

305. He will see the conductors, life-buoys, and heaving-lines ready for service, and that a boat is always ready for lowering.

306. An officer commanding a division of guns and men on board a vessel is to be held responsible for its efficiency in all respects. Besides keeping the guns in constant condition for action, and the men well trained to their use, agreeably to the ordnance instructions of the Navy, he is to give his personal attention to the cleanliness and good appearance of the men.

307. He is to be very particular to inform the officer who relieves him of all orders which remain to be executed; of the position of the vessel with reference to land, vessels, &c., and give him all such information as may be necessary or serviceable in carrying out the unexecuted orders of the captain.

308. He shall be particular in making all the usual reports to the captain or executive officer; shall require all officers and others under his orders to perform their duties in a proper manner, and shall see that all the proper honors and etiquette are strictly observed.

THE SECOND LIEUTENANT.

309. The line officer next in rank to the executive officer shall be the navigator.

310. Under the direction of the commander of the vessel the second lieutenant will, in addition to his other duties, superintend the stowing of the ballast, water-tanks, provisions, and all other articles in the hold.

311. When the stowage of the vessel shall be completed, an entry must be made in the log-book, specifying particularly the quantity and arrangement of the ballast, the number, size, and disposition of the tanks and casks, and the quantity and storage of provisions and other stores. Accurate plans must also be made of the stowage of the hold, showing the disposition of all the articles, all of which must be inserted on the first page of the log-book.

312. The second lieutenant is to inspect the hold frequently, and see that it is kept clean, and that everything is properly stowed to keep the vessel in her proper trim, and that everything is well chocked to prevent its fetching away in bad weather.

313. Under the direction of the commander or executive officer, he is to see that the cables are properly secured below, distinctly marked, and properly fitted and stoppered while at anchor; that the chain-lockers are kept clear, and that the necessary arrangements are made for anchoring, mooring, unmooring, or getting under way without unnecessary delay.

314. He is to see that the standing and running rigging and sails of the vessel are, at all times, protected from chafe, and in good order.

315. He shall examine the charts of all the coasts which the vessel may visit, note upon them any errors which he may discover, and inform the commanding officer of the same, that he may, if he think them of sufficient importance, report them to the Department.

316. He shall frequently examine the compasses, time-glasses, log, and lead-lines, and see that they are in good order. When at sea, he shall ascertain, by time-sights, meridian altitudes, and by other astronomical means, the position of the vessel, and report the same to the captain, at noon, and at such other times as the captain may require. He shall have charge of the chronometers and other nautical instruments, charts, and books of the vessel, subject to the orders of the captain.

317. He is to have charge of, and must account for, all nautical books, instruments, charts, national flags, and signals belonging to the vessel.

318. When the vessel may be approaching any land or shoals, or entering any port or harbor, he shall be very attentive to the soundings; and he shall, at all times, inform the commander of any danger to which he may think the vessel exposed, whether under charge of a pilot or not. 319. He shall have charge of keeping the ship's log-book, and shall see that all particulars are duly entered in it, according to such forms as are or may be prescribed; and he shall, immediately after such entries, send it to the watch officers, that they may sign their names at the end of the remarks in their respective watches while the circumstances are fresh in their memories, and he shall take it to the commanding officer for his inspection immediately after noon of each day.

320. There shall be entered on the log-slate and log-book, with minute exactness, the following particulars: