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dirty. As a matter of fact, conditions generally are far better than anyone would
imagine who read such reports as this without having any first-hand knowledge of
ships. There are many owners who are keenly interested in the welfare of the crews
of their ships, and who provide them with excellent quarters ; there are many officers
who constantly devote care and attention to the conditions under which the crew live,
and who exercise discipline in such a way that the men are happy and contented ; and
there are many sailors and firemen who show practical appreciation of good
accommodation, and who even make the best of unsatisfactory quarters.
Moreover, I believe that things are improving ; that there is a greater willingness
on the part of owners to carry out any suggestions for improvements, and that the
standards of the men are higher. No doubt the latter will be favourably influenced
by improved housing conditions ashore.
As regards discipline, I am not so sure of improvement. A brutal discipline
would quite rightly not be tolerated nowadays. To an increasing degree the poAver
to keep discipline depends on personality, yet it is as essential as ever on board ship.
There must be many psychological stresses and strains for the man who spends his life
at sea, and he unconsciously derives strength and support from a reasonable discipline.
Progress is being made, but there is yet much to be done. It is not, the job of the
Board of Trade or the Ministry of Health or Port Sanitary Authorities, or Shipowners or
Ship Builders, or officers or men, alone. All must play their part and each must refrain
from obstructing, actively or passively, or from stimulating obstruction. The shipping
industry has been very sick, and the convalescent must not be called upon for effort
beyond his strength ; on the other hand, if he is not encouraged to do what is within
his capacity and excuses of weakness are always accepted, he may become a
hypochondriac, demanding tonics which provide temporary stimulation, but which
Mall never restore him to health.
The Heating of Crew Accommodation in British Merchant Ships.
Inspector L. R. Hundy reports as follows
In British ships heating of accommodation is by one of the following methods:—
(1) Coal fires usually of the bogie stove type.
(2) Steam heaters.
(8) Electric heaters.
(4) Central heating by low-pressure hot water.
Bogie stoves are still the means of providing heat in many ships, especially those
of the smaller class. Sometimes all the living accommodation is thus heated ;
sometimes only the crew spaces, the officers' quarters amidships being heated by
steam or electricity. Steam heaters are quite common. Electric heaters are rare, at
any rate in ships berthing in the Upper River District. It is only in recently-built
ships, viz., the motor vessels of the Newcastle Coaling Company, the Tyne Tees
Steamship Co., the Dundee, Perth and London Steamship Co., and the Fulham
Borough Council's Steamships that I have found the low-pressure hot-water system
of heating. From my enquiries and from inspections and reinspections, I have
formed the opinion that this means of heating is very satisfactory in vessels where
the quarters are compact.
The advantages of the bogie stove are that it promotes ventilation and assists in
maintaining a steady flow of air from the quarters up the flue, thus keeping the air in
the accommodation moving. It is not dependent on any mechanism, a very important
point, and the men who require the heat can regulate it as they like. In small vessels
when the men live in one compartment, a large coal bogie stove and a metal bin for
storage of fuel is quite a satisfactory arrangement.