mperfect. Each boy presenting himself for
enlistment must be accompanied by his father, mother, or, in case
neither is living, by his legally appointed guardian, and must
voluntarily sign an agreement to serve in the navy till twenty-one
years of age. Upon enlistment the boys are rated as third-class
apprentices, and are paid $9 a month. Deserving boys are rated
second-class apprentices, and receive pay of $15 a month after they
have completed their term of service on a cruising training-ship. If
they have served a year on a cruising ship of war they are considered
properly qualified apprentices, and receive $21 a month. As the
apprentices become proficient and their services are required, they
are transferred to the seagoing vessels. Upon the expiration of the
enlistment of an apprentice he will, if recommended, receive an
honorable discharge, and if he enlists again within three months, will
be given pay for this period. The apprentices are under the immediate
supervision of the Bureau of Navigation of the Navy Department, and
applications for enlistment are made to the chief of that bureau at
Washington, or to the officer commanding either the "Vermont," at the
Brooklyn navy yard, or the "Richmond," stationed at the League Island
yard, Philadelphia. These were the recruiting-ships, from which the
boys were being sent to the training-station at Coaster's Island as
soon as a squad of twenty were enlisted, at the period of this
writing. Sometimes there have been more ships in this duty.

There are usually about one hundred boys at the station at one time.
They are taught to march, handle muskets, revolvers, broadswords, and
cannon; they go aloft so as to get practice with the sails, and are
also made familiar with the management of boats and oars and
boathooks. Two hours a day are devoted to lessons, consisting of
arithmetic, reading, writing, spelling, geography and grammar. Ample
time is given for recreation, and innocent social pleasures are
encouraged.

There are two training-ships, besides the famous old ship
"Constellation," which figured in the War of 1812, at the station
devoted to the use of the boys, and every six months one of these
appears at Coaster's Island, and receives the apprentices who have
been at the station for half a year. The vessel then starts on a
cruise to Europe if it is summer, and to the West Indies in the
winter. Each boy remains aboard a year, only half of the crew being
changed at a t