Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/537

 we shall refer hereafter, as well as to the numerous important changes in the merchant service of England which have since been made.

The law also makes the chief mate the successor to the master in case the latter should die, or be unable to perform the duties of his office; and this without any action on the part of the crew when at sea, or of the consignees of the vessel when in harbour abroad. It is always important, therefore, that to the practical seamanship and activity necessary for the discharge of the proper duties of his office the mate should add a sufficient knowledge of navigation, to be able to carry the ship on her voyage should anything happen to the master. In the case of a ship coming from the East Indies, there is a decision that no ship insured can be deemed seaworthy unless she have on board, at the time of sailing, a mate competent to take command of the ship in the event of the death or sickness of the master. This principle, however, can in strictness only be applied to long voyages, and a high American authority calls it in question. Both the chief and second mates are always addressed by their surnames, with the courteous prefix of "Mr.," and are answered with the addition of "Sir." This is a requirement of ship's duty, and an intentional omission of such courtesies constitutes an offence against the rules and understanding of the service.