A ship's crew is mustered in two divisions: the Starboard (right side, looking forward) and the Port (left). The day commences at noon, and is thus divided:--

This makes seven Watches, which the crew keep alternately, the Watch which is on duty in the forenoon one day having the afternoon next day, and the men who have only four hours' rest one night have eight hours the next. This is the reason for Dog Watches, which are made by dividing the hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. into two Watches.

Time is kept by means of "Bells." Two strokes of the clapper at the interval of a second, then an interval of two seconds, then two more strokes with a second's interval apart, then a rest of two seconds, thus:--

Bell, one Second; B., two secs.; B. s.; B. ss.; B. s.; B. ss; B.

1 Bell is struck at 12.30, and again at 4.30, 6.30, 8.30 p.m.; 12.30, 4.30, and 8.30 a.m.

2 Bells at 1 (struck with an interval of a second between each--B. s. B.), the same again at 5, 7, and 9 p.m., 1, 5, and 9 a.m.

3 Bells at 1.30 (B. s. B. ss. B.), 5.30, 7.30, and 9.30 p.m.; 1.30, 5.30, and 9.30 a.m.

4 Bells at 2 (B. s. B. ss. B. s. B.), 6, and 10 p.m.; 2, 6, and 10 a.m.

5 Bells at 2.30 (B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B.) and 10.30 p.m.; 2.30, 6.30, and 10.30 a.m.

6 Bells at 3 (B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B. s. B.) and 11 p.m.; 3, 7, and 11 a.m.

7 Bells at 3.30 (B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B.), and 11.30 p.m.; 3.30, 7.30, and 11.30 a.m.

8 Bells (B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B. s. B. ss. B. s. B.) at noon, at 4 p.m., 8 p.m., midnight, 4 a.m., and 8 a.m.