The Men on Deck: Master, Mates and Crew, Their Duties and Responsibilities

"The Men on Deck: Master, Mates and Crew, Their Duties and Responsibilities" by Felix Riesenberg is a guide explaining the jobs and expectations for people working on ships in the American Merchant Service, probably around the start of the 1900s. It explains the different roles of everyone on the ship, especially the captain and crew, as ships changed from using sails to steam power. The book highlights how things were changing in sea travel, with steam ships becoming more common. It talks about what the captain, called the Master Mariner, is in charge of, like steering the ship, keeping cargo safe, managing the crew, and following the rules of the sea. Riesenberg makes it clear that good training and knowledge are super important for everyone on board, and that knowing who is responsible for what helps keep things in order on a ship that can be complicated to manage. With this introduction, the manual starts to explore all the maritime jobs expected of various crew members.