COMFORT IN THE FO'C'S'L

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12064, 20 July 1917, Page 3

COMFORT IN THE FO'C'S'L

'AN OLD-TIME SKIT,

Fifty-seven years ago (savs the San Francisco "Chronicle"), 'when the white sails of American clippers wero seen in all ports of the world, shipmasters were having to meet demands of forecastle hands for better food and accommodations aboard ship. Tho agitation, then, which resulted in the passago of tho Seaman's Act, is no new thing in the shipping world. Captain C. I?. Kiltgaard, of San Francisco, has dug up a notice published in 1800 as a notice to all American shipmasters for tho protection of American sailors, proposing certain regulations for skipper-? and a menu for foremast hands. It is written in a spirit of satiro, hut several of the proposals are now law. I t follows:

Article I.—-No officer shall address a sailor with his head covered. Article ll—All vessels shall be furnished with noiseless spring beds and hair mattresses for tho use of sailors.

Article lII.—No sailor shall ho required to do duty when it rains or tho deck is wet. Article IV.—No sailor shall bo disturbed or required to tako in or make sail on his watch below; ho shall nover go aloft in the night without a lantern Article V.—Ho shall nover bo requested to stand at the wheel in summer without a sun umbrella over his head or in winter without a hot water tin under his feet to stand upon. Article Vl.—On Sunday ho shall have roast turkey and plenty of tomato sauce and boiled onions, and plum pudding with brandy sauce for dessert. Monday.—Pickled eels' feot and ears with mock turtlo soup. Tuesday.—Beefsteak, boiled potatoes and oyster stew.

Wednesday.—Roast larab, green peas and peacock's eggs. Thursday—Chicken fried in butter with various kinds of salads, cream cake and Washington pie for dessert. Friday.—Baked spare ribs, mutton chops and apple sauce and minco pies. Saturday.—Smoked salmon, tadpoles' gizzards and humming birds' eyeballs. Napkins and orange-wood toothpicks at each meal.

Article VII,—If any master shall neglect these rules he shall pay a fino of £IOO, to be recovered for tlu: foro« cast lo ■lawyer aml used for his benefit.