DIETARY, NAVAL. In fitting out ships for the royal navy, the quantity of victuals is calculated on two data—the established allowance or ration of certain articles, and the average experience of past years in regard to certain others. Under the first cate gory, the ration is everywhere equal, from the admiral down to the humblest sailor; under the second, the differences are very wide. Certain articles are regarded as " non guaranteed" to the ordinary crew, to be given or withheld according to circumstances: such as fresh meat, preserved meat, lemon-juice, and wine.
The D. in relation to kind and quantity of food has been changed from time to time. In 1844, the daily ration was set clown thus: 1 lb. biscuit, I lb. salt meat, j lb. vegetables, 1} oz. sugar. 1 oz. chocolate, oz. tea, and + pint rum. When the meat was beef, f lb. flour was added; when pork, pint of pease in lieu of the flour. Besides these daily allowances, pint oatmeal was given weekly, and vinegar when wanted, usually also half a pint per week. Fresh vegetables being not at times obtainable, pre served vegetables may not be iu store, and circumstances may render it easy to obtain supplies of fresh meat, suet, raisins, currants, loaf-bread, rice, sago, coffee, cocoa, barley meal, butter, cheese, onions, leeks, wine, beer, etc. At such times the dietary undergoes a temporary change, very acceptable to the crew. If the sailors draw less than their rations, they receive a money equivalent at stated intervals. The cost of the dietary to
the state. on the basis of 1844, was about £18 per man per annum.
The British government have never attempted the temperance system in the navy, but they offer facilities to such seamen as choose to adopt it. In 1847, a plan was intro duced for giving tea and sugar in lieu of rum. Many of the seamen have in this way abandoned spirituous liquors, but not to so great an extent as the seamen of the U. S. navy.
In 1859, the D. was made more liberal in several particulars. The scale of provi sions now stands thus: Daily—biscuit or soft bread, lbs.; spirit, pint; sugar, 2 ozs. ; chocolate, 1 oz. ' • tea, I oz. Weekly—oatmeal, I pint; mustard, i•oz.; pepper, + oz.; vinegar, + pint. Daily when procurable—fresh meat, 1 lb.; vegetables, lb. Daily when these are not procurable—salt pork or salt beef, 1 lb.; split pease, pint; or 9 ozs. flour.* oz. suet, 1,1- ozs. currants or raisins.
The D. for emigrants is regulated by law. Every emigrant-ship is bound to be pro vided with certain kinds and quantities of provisions, according to the number of emi grants and the length of the voyage. The chief owners of passenger-ships engaged in the Australian and other distinct trades, now pay great attention to this subject, as one which affects the good name of the several firms.