NAUTICAL TRAINING SCHOOLS. Schools for training young men in the science of navigation, in the study of marine engineer ing in all its various branches, in practical sea manship — in all the necessary matters Pertain ing to the operation of vessels at sea, have long been established both in the United States and in foreign countries. These nautical schools have for their definite obiect the train ing of young men who desire to follow the sea as a profession, to enable them to become officers in the Merchant Service and to provide highly trained, efficient officers for the auxil iaries and reserve of the naval forces. Euro pean countries, especially England, France and Belgium, have for many years conducted suc cessfully such institutions. In the last few years Japan, Brazil and the Argentine republic have also developed institutions for this purpose.
In the United States, although there have been but three practical nautical schools for this purpose, viz., the New York State Nautical School, the Massachusetts Nautical School and the Pennsylvania Nautical School, they were all of very high order. The schools were main tained on sea-going vessels, usually all sail rigged with auxiliary power. The course em braced two years and included cruising to for eign waters. During the winter time, when the school-ships were moored at the wharves, theo retical instructions were given and the routine was somewhat similar to a school ashore, but during the summer months practical training under actual conditions prevailing at sea was given and every operation of the ship was combined with intensive study for the purpose of enabling the cadets to obtain proficiency.
Upon graduation from either the New York State Nautical School or the Massachusetts Nautical School (the Pennsylvania Nautical School having been discontinued some few years back) the cadet is entitled to apply for a third officer's or third assistant engineer's certificate. After three months' service at sea he can obtain a second officer's license; after another year's service as second officer on deck he can get his license as first officer, and a year thereafter he can qualify for his master's license.
The coming development of the American Merchant Marine will necessitate an expansion of the nautical school idea in order to enable it to meet the demand for trained personnel. During the war emergency dire necessity caused the Shipping Board to inaugurate emergency schools for the hasty training of officers and engineers, which at the time served to meet the paralyzing deficiency then existent. The Shipping Board schools provided for three months' study, and could in no way be com pared to the thoroughness of the education provided by such institutions as, for instance, the New York State Nautical School, which latter has been in existence since 1876.
The success of the New York State Nautical School, as well as the Massachusetts Nautical School, as reflected by services rendered by theirates in all branches of the Merchant and Naval Service during the World War has impelled, among others, the States of Oregon, California and Maine to establish similar schools to be maintained by the various States.
The Federal government contributes toward the maintenance of the schools by an appro priation granted to reimburse the State in part for the expense of maintaining the school and by loaning suitable vessels, and also, when possible, designating naval officers as in structors. It is hoped that within a short time the Federal government will take a larger in terest in this very vital question.
The opportunities thus presented to young men between the ages of 16 and 2n, who enter these institutions, who can obtain their licenses as third officers at the age of 19 and who in time of war obtain commissions in the Naval Reserve Force when they reach the age of 21, are unlimited; numbers of young men have risen to command of ocean-going ships within a period of eight years.
Louis WEICKUM, Secretary, New York State Nautical School.