1. Acquire the habit of sitting down in a boat, and never stand up to perform any work which may be done sitting.

2. Never climb the mast of a boat even in smooth water, to reeve halliards or for any other purpose, but unstep and lower the mast in preference. Many boats have been upset, and very many lives lost from this cause. The smaller a boat the more necessary this and the foregoing precaution.

3. All spare gear, such as masts, sails, oars, &c., which are stowed above the thwarts, should be lashed close to the sides of a boat: and any heavy articles on the boat's floor be secured, as well as possible, amidships, to prevent them all falling to leeward together on a heavy lurch of the sea.

4. On a merchant-vessel getting stranded or otherwise disabled in a heavy sea, or on an open coast where there is a high surf on the beach, the crew should remain by their vessel as long as they can safely do so, in preference to taking to their boats. As a general rule, much more risk is incurred in a boat than in a ship, so long as the latter will hold together. Indeed in a moderate wind on a lee-shore in open situations, and even in a calm, there is frequently more surf than any ordinary ship's boat can with safety attempt, however well managed she may be.

5. After being compelled to desert a ship in an ordinary ship's boat, too great precaution cannot be taken before attempting to land. Viewed from to seaward, a surf has never so formidable an appearance as when seen from the land, persons in a boat outside the broken water are therefore apt to be deceived by it. They should accordingly,if practicable, proceed along the land outside the surf, until abreast of a coast-guard or life-boat station, or fishing-village, whence they might be seen by those on shore, who would then signalize to them where they might safest attempt to land, or warn them to keep off; or who might proceed in a lifeboat or fishing-boat to their aid, the generality of coast fishing-boats being far better able to cope with a surf than a ship's boat, and the coast-boatmen being more skilful in managing boats in a surf than the crews of ships.

If in the night, double precaution is necessary —and it will in general be much safer to anchor a boat outside the surf until daylight than to attempt to land through it in the dark. For this reason an anchor and cable should always be put into a boat before leaving the ship, and also two or three buckets, in addition to the baler or hand-pump, which should always be kept in her, so that she might be quickly relieved of any water she might ship.

6. Boats may ride out a heavy gale in the open sea, in safety if not in comfort, by lashing their spars, oars, &c., together, and riding to leeward of them, secured to them by a span. The raft thus formed will break the sea: it may either be anchored or drifting, according to circumstances.

If the boat has a sail, the yard should be attached to the spars with the sail loosed.

It will break much sea ahead. Also a weight suspended to the clue of the sail will impede drift when requisite. In all cases of riding by spars, not less than two oars should be retained in the boat, to be ready for use in case of parting from the spars.

7. Where a surf breaks at only a short distance from the beach, a boat may be veered and backed through it, from another boat anchored outside the surf, when two or more boats are in company; or she may be anchored and veered, or backed in from her own anchor.

8. Ships' boats should, in addition to their oars, masts, and sails, have the following articles kept in them when at sea, or, if not in them, they should be placed in them if possible before deserting a ship at sea.

A baler or hand-pump, and buckets; the plug, and a spare one, both fastened by lanyards; spare thole-pins and grummets, if rowed in that manner; two or three spare oars; a small hatchet; an anchor and cable; a long small line, as a whale-line or deepsea lead-line, and any life buoys or lifebelts which are on board. If in the night, or at a distance from the land, a lantern and matches; and if available, blue lights or hand-rockets. If beyond sight of land, a compass* and telescope, and of course fresh water and provisions. A log-line and sandglass, a hand-lead and line, small arms and ammunition (with ball-cartridges and small shot). A red flag and a boat-hook for a flag-staff might often be useful to attract attention. A red flannel shirt is a good substitute for a flag. O 9. In addition to the above, small empty casks or breakers, tightly bunged and lashed beneath the thwarts, would partially convert any boat into a life-boat, by making it impossible for her to founder; and by leaving less space to be occupied by water if filled by a sea, their use would much expedite the process of pumping or baling out.

10. No ship's boat should either be lowered into or hoisted from the water without first having a rope from the forepart of the ship made fast to her bows, by which means she will be much steadied, and will be prevented going adrift if the tackles should be prematurely unhooked or carried away. The rudder should be slung, to prevent its being lost if accidentally unshipped.