[Footnote 1:  For the fluttering, unsteady feeling often felt, the following, if not abused, will be found beneficial:  Take as much bromide of potassium as will lie, not heaped up, on a shilling, and half a teaspoonful of sal volatile (aromatic spirits of ammonia).  Mix in a wine glass full of water; but this should only be taken when absolutely necessary, and not habitually.]

As to the crew.  A master who has full command of himself ought to be able to rule judiciously even the most unruly crew, but before he is in a really strong position to do this, he must treat them fairly and honestly.  In many cases a bad start is made with a new set of men (of course this will not apply to the high class mail steamers, nor perhaps to what are termed weekly boats).  They come on board and find their forecastle just as the last crew left it, full of a week’s filth,[2] possibly lumbered up with hauling lines and what-not, wanting painting badly, and often showing unmistakable signs of overhead leakage.  This is quite enough to make a respectable man discontented, and naturally so.  In common fairness, the often wretched place that the men have to occupy ought to be put in decent order to receive the new crew.  Again, they should be distinctly made to understand, when signing articles, what their food will be, and what their pay and allowances will come to.  It is to be feared that bad feeding is the cause of much trouble in these days.  From first coming on board discipline should be enforced; many officers, both young and old, are greatly remiss in enforcing this, with the consequence that day by day it is harder to do, till at last it is impossible, and anarchy reigns triumphant.  If a seaman finds that he is fairly treated, and that he must obey orders, he will in nine cases out of ten conduct himself well, and give no trouble.  The more high class type of man the master is the better he will treat his men, and the more exacting he will be in compelling discipline, both in his officers and crew.

[Footnote 2:  This should not be.  It is most decidedly one of the master’s duties to see that the men on both sides of the forecastle keep their places clean, and for this purpose it is a very good plan to give them an hour or two every week, and it is only right that if a crew fled a forecastle clean to receive them, they should be made to leave it in the same state.]

Engineers and firemen are often sources of annoyance in these days.  Firemen are a lower class generally than seamen, and more inclined to insubordination; in many cases the engineers are quite incapable of keeping them in proper order, and it sometimes happens that in an engine room row it falls to the lot of the deck officers to restore discipline.