Coastguard

Coastguard, an organisation formerly intended to prevent smuggling merely, but now constituted so as to serve as a defensive force also. The old coastguardsmen were in the employment of the Customs department; they were posted along the shore at spots commanding extensive views of the beach, and were expected to be always on the lookout for smugglers. In 1856 the coastguard was transferred to the Admiralty, and under this arrangement the Admiralty may, from time to time, issue orders for the augmentation of the coastguard, not to exceed 10,000 men in all. Lands not exceeding three acres each may be bought by the Admiralty for coastguard stations. The coasts of the United Kingdom have been divided into eleven districts. Each district is under a navy captain, who has an ironclad guardship at some point in the district. All the revenue cruisers and defence-gunboats are attached as tenders to the ships, and are manned therefrom. The able seamen, borne on the ships' books, and employed on shore in coastguard service, are in three classes—chief boatmen, commissioned boatmen, and boatmen. They receive high-sea pay, besides 1s. 4d. per day in lieu of provisions, and house-rent and medical attendance free. In war-time, all of these men may be called upon to serve as regular sailors on board ship; but their families are allowed to live rent-free during this time. The coastguard are taught naval gunnery, gunboat exercise, and the serving of land-batteries. The guardships are also employed as training ships for the navy. The whole of the coastguard now comprises some 4200 men; and the charge for their maintenance and that of their ships is about £460,000.