with the hatchways open
over hasty stowage, and all the litter of a week's harbour disroutine
standing to be cleared by a raw and semi-mutinous crew.

Criticism on these grounds is just: but it was ever the seaman's custom
to dismiss heavy weather--when it was past and gone--and recall only the
fine days of smooth sailing. If the hard times of our strain and
labouring are not wholly over, at least we have fallen in with a more
favouring wind from the land. Conditions in the Merchants' Service are
vastly improved since Germany challenged our right to pass freely on our
lawful occasions. Relations between the owner and the seamen are less
strained. Remuneration for sea-service is now more adequate. The sullen
atmosphere of harsh treatment on the one hand, and grudging service on
the other, has been cleared away by the hurricane threat to our common
interests.

Throughout the book there are some few extracts--all indicated by
quotation marks--from the works of modern authors. The writer wishes to
acknowledge their use and to mention the following: "Trinity House," by
Walter H. Mayo; "The Sea," by F. Whymper; "The Merchant Seamen in War,"
by L. Cope Cornford; "Fleets behind the Fleet," by W. Macneile Dixon;
"North Sea Fishers and Fighters" and "Fishermen in Wartime," both by
Walter Wood; the pages of the _Nautical Magazine_.

The grateful thanks of writer and artist are tendered to Rear-Admiral
Sir Douglas Brownrigg, Chief Naval Censor, and to Lord Beaverbrook and
Mr. Arnold Bennett, of the Ministry of Information, for facilities and
kindly assistance in preparation of the work. The writer's indebtedness
to his Owners for encouragement and for generous leave of absence
(without which the book could not have been written) is especially
acknowledged.

Mr. Muirhead Bone's drawings reproduced in this book were executed
during the war for the Ministry of Information with the co-operation of
the Admiralty. They are now in the possession of the Imperial War
Museum. With the exception of the illustrations on pages 44, 224, and
252, these drawings were made on the spot.

DAVID W. BONE

PART I

[Illustration: GRAVESEND: A MERCHANTMAN OUTWARD BOUND]

I

THE MERCHANTS' SERVICE

OUR FOUNDATION

ALTHOUGH sea-interest of to-day finds an expression somewhat trite and
familiar, the spell of the ships and the romance of voyaging drew an
instant and wondering r