CHAPTER II. Necessity of proper education for merchant seamen-Practice in Denmark-In Norway and Sweden-Russia and Prussia-France — Remarkable care of seamen in Venice, Scuola di San NicoloCharacter of this institution, and general working Variously modified since first creation-State since 1814-Qualifications of Venetian shipmasters - Present regulations of Austria Great Britain-Need of a public institution for merchant seamen-The "Belvidere " or Royal Alfred Aged Seaman's Institution, note-Mr. Williams, observations by, on the advantage of a general Seaman's Fund, note-Institution in Norway--Foreign Office circular of July 1, 1843-Its value, though unfair and one-sided-Replies to circular— Mr. Consul Booker-Mr. Consul Baker-Mr. Consul Yeames-The Consul at Dantzig — The Consuls of Genoa, Ancona, and Naples— Mr. Consul Sherrard-Mr. Consul McTavish-Mr. Consul Hesketh -Reports from the Consuls in South America-General conclusions of Mr. Murray, Nov. 22, 1847, and suggestions for remedies-Board of Trade Commission, May 17, 1847-Its results -- Shipowners condemned for the character of their ships and officers - Views of Government-Necessity of a competent Marine Department. ALTHOUGH it can scarcely be said that the character Necessity of British seamen degenerated from the time America education declared her independence till towards the close of for merthe first half of the present century, there is no seamen. doubt that those of other nations were making rapid strides in advance of them. Indeed, many causes had combined to raise, alike, the position of the shipowners and seamen of foreign nations, not the least of these being the protection afforded to our of proper chant Practice in shipowners by the Navigation Laws, as under that protective system they felt it less necessary to exert themselves to contend with the foreigner as keenly as, under other circumstances, they would surely have done. Most foreign nations had also directed their attention, long before we did, to the necessity of thorough education for their seafaring population-a policy they have since maintained. With that object. in view, schools were established at all their principal seaports, where not merely the rudiments of navigation were taught the youths, but considerable attention was also devoted to their moral and intellectual improvement. In Denmark, for instance, the system of education for the higher grades of the merchant service was particularly strict and effective. No Danish subject was allowed to act as master of a merchant vessel unless he had previously made two voyages in the capacity of mate, while the mates themselves had, and still have, to submit to a general examination, embracing (1st) a knowledge of dead-reckoning, the nature and use of logarithms, and the first rudiments of geometry; (2nd) the nature and use of the compass and log; and (3rd) the form and motions of the earth, and the geographical lines projected on its surface, so as to be able to determine the position of different places. It was also expected that he should understand the nature of Mercator's charts, and the mode of laying down the ship's course on them, together with such calculations as may be necessary for this purpose. Expertness in keeping a journal, in the use of the quadrant, and in making the necessary allowances for currents, lee-way, and the varia tions of the compass, were all required, together with and In Norway and Sweden, mates of ships had to In Norway undergo a similar examination before being allowed Sweden. to act in that capacity, and a still more rigid examination both as regards seamanship, navigation, and the general knowledge of business relating to shipping affairs, before they could command a vessel, together with a knowledge of the Customs and Navigation Laws, and of the usual averages and exchange. They had likewise to know something of the elements of shipbuilding, and of the mode of measuring a ship's capacity. Prussia. In Russia and Prussia the mates and masters of Russia and Inerchant vessels, besides the qualifications above referred to, were required not merely to read and write France. their own language with accuracy, but to have some knowledge also of English and French. So early as 1806 a school was founded in Nicolaieff to train masters and pilots for the commercial marine, which, in 1832, was enlarged and removed to Cherson, while another and similar establishment was at the same time founded in St. Petersburg. All coasting vessels are now bound to have masters who have left these schools with certificates of competency. But the most important measure for the encouragement of seamen in Russia, whether employed in river or sea navigation, was enacted in 1826; families devoted to navigation being then for the first time incorporated in certain towns along the sea coasts and great rivers under the designation of Corporations of Free Mariners." These corporations were exempted from the capitation and land taxes, and from the conscription and quartering of troops, on condition that they sent their young men to serve for five years as apprentices in the Imperial fleet. 66 The system, however, of combining the services of seamen for the navy and the mercantile marine alike has been more thoroughly organised in France than in any other country. There the State and Commercial Navy are under the same code of regulations, the members of each being equally entitled to a pension after a certain length of service: in fact, all seamen in France are held to be in Government employ; their names are registered in the office of the Marine Commissioners of the port to which they belong, and, from the age of eighteen to fifty, they are liable to be ordered at any time on board a Government ship, to serve as long as necessary. Hence it is that almost every seaman or fisherman of France has served in the navy for at least three years. At the age of fifty, and on the completion of a service at sea of three hundred months in either the navy or the merchant marine, a seaman receives a pension according to a certain scale, whereby, however, he cannot get more than six hundred francs, or less than ninety-six francs per annum. But these pensions are not really paid by the State, as a deduction of three per cent. is made from the monthly pay of every seaman in either service, so as to provide a fund for their payment. France also provides for her seafaring classes more liberal and effective means of education than are, perhaps, to be found in any other country. A professor, paid by Government, resides in each of its principal ports, who affords to all, seeking to be commanders in the merchant service, instruction, free of charge, on the different subjects connected with their profession." Seaman's funds, somewhat similar to those in France, have been established by all other European nations, though the objects in view have differed. That in England, well known as the Merchant Seaman's Fund, was instituted during the early part of the present century, for the benefit solely of merchant seamen, who were not under any obligation to serve in ships of war, though, during the great war, they were too frequently pressed into the service. All these associations appear to have 1 See papers relating to the Commercial Marine of Great Britain, 1846, p. 235. |