Porters
Porters were the Galley helpers. If a Galley had two porters, one would attend to the needs of the unlicensed Crew's Mess Room. His responsibilities would include waiting on the crew, preparing beverages, and cleaning the dishes. The other Porter would be the "Pearl Diver" who washed all the pots and pans dirtied in the course of galley operation. The Porters were also responsible for the cleanliness of the officers' quarters and changing their linens. One Porter was assigned to the forward end and one Porter was assigned to the aft end. They would meet the grocery man, stow all supplies, and see to the general cleanliness of the whole galley. In a one-Porter galley, he/she would have to work smarter. Usually the day-to-day cleaning of the officers' rooms would be done only once a week. The cafeteria-style service allowed more time for cleaning the dishes and the pots and pans.
