2 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE

It is convenient sometimes when indicating roughly the direction
of an object external to the ship to divide the horizon into sectors
relative to her fore-and-aft line. An object may be reported as being
ahead or astern, on starboard bow or port bow, on starboard beam or
port beam, starboard quarter or port quarter.

AHEAD

ASTERft

Thus the white masthead lights show from right ahead to two
points abaft the beam on each side; the green side-light shows from
right ahead to two points abaft the starboard beam; the red side-ligbc
from right ahead to two points abaft the port beam; the white stejn
light from right aft to two points abaft the beam on each quarter.
The Lookoutman is stationed on the forecastle-head or in a crows-nest
on the foremast and, like the man at the wheel, he usually does a two
hours' "trick." When thelookoutman sights a light on the starboard
bow he usually intimates the fact by one stroke on the bell, two strokes
for a light on the port bow, and three strokes when it is sighted right
ahead. He may supplement this signal by calling out the fact to the
officer on the bridge,
The Day at Sea is divided into watches of fom: hours each, viz,, from
midnight to 4 sum., 4 to 8, 8 to 12,12 to 4 p.m,, tfben. two "dog watches'*
£ Jbo 6 and $ to 8 to break the sequence and then 8 p.m. to midnight
$$$ cU>g patches ere only necessary in the watch and watch system, four
on deet aa^i fctix hoiais below.
JB&Ife are stprack e.very. half-hour in each watch, &*x additional .st^ke
s^ceessjve J^K-hour; thus four bells in tke, *gi£$0 watet t,
ik, six Bells at 3 a.m., $even bells at 3-30 anci