Victualling.

Victualling. All officers and men in the British navy are borne, when on full pay, on the books of one of H.M. ships, whatever the duties may be on which they are engaged, and are entitled to rations, or compensation in money if their rations are not issued. Every person actually serving on board a ship has his rations issued, and is then said to be 'victualled' on board. Should any officer or man be only borne on the books for pay, and be employed on other service away from the ship, he is not 'victualled,' but receives compensation in lieu. All officers and men are entitled to the same rations, and to the same compensation in lieu; they are allowed to leave behind (i.e. not draw) a certain proportion of their rations, receiving a money allowance instead, except in the case of fresh meat and bread, which must always be taken up. The paymaster has charge of the victualling stores, and is responsible for the account. Under that head are included not only the provisions, but all the clothing, and the soap and tobacco. The victualling department is under the administration of an official at the Admiralty styled the Director of Victualling. There are three large victualling yards in England, the Clarence yard at Portsmouth, the Royal William at Devonport, and the Royal Victoria at Deptford, the last the largest and most important. From Deptford all the depôts abroad are replenished, while most of the biscuit and chocolate is made there, and beef salted. Deptford was first established as a dockyard and depôt for stores in 1573. The space occupied by the victualling-yard is about 19 acres, with a river frontage of 1700 feet, and mean depth of 1000 feet. The number of men employed varies, but during war upwards of a thousand would be required. Till 1869 the victualling-yards were under the charge of a captain-superintendent, but since then all these establishments have been placed under the civil administration of the Admiralty. The Clarence and Royal William yards are both supplied from Deptford, and re-issue to ships as required. There is also a large victualling establishment at Malta for the service of the Mediterranean squadron, and smaller depôts on other foreign stations. Fresh beef, bread, and vegetables are always obtained at other ports both at home and abroad from local contractors. The victualling of men in merchant-ships is now regulated by the Merchant Shipping Acts, and can be made the subject of inquiry either by magistrates or Board of Trade officials at home, or by the consular authorities abroad, in the event of any of the crew being discontented and lodging a formal complaint.