There are many particulars connected with the manning of vessels,
the provisions given to crews, and the treatment of them while at sea,
upon which there might be a good deal said; but as I have, for the
most part, remarked upon them as they came up in the course of my
narrative, I will offer nothing further now, except on the single
point of the manner of shipping men. This, it is well known, is
usually left entirely to the shipping-masters, and is a cause of a
great deal of difficulty, which might be remedied by the captain, or
owner, if he has any knowledge of seamen, attending to it
personally. One of the members of the firm to which our ship belonged,
Mr. S---, had been himself a master of a vessel, and generally
selected the crew from a number sent down to him from the
shipping-office. In this way he almost always had healthy,
serviceable, and respectable men; for any one who has seen much of
sailors can tell pretty well at first sight, by a man's dress,
countenance, and deportment, what he would be on board ship. This same
gentleman was also in the habit of seeing the crew together, and
speaking to them previously to their sailing.
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