Deckhand
Deckhands are the entry rating members of the crew. They are not licensed, but did possess a Merchant Mariner's Document issued by the U.S. Coast Guard needed by all seamen. They typically learn their duties on the job. Traditionally, the Deckhands are placed in quarters adjacent to and flanking the Dunnage Room. (If you compare non-rate quarters on a Navy ship from this time period, you see the difference. The Navy berth their non-rate in bays that hold forty men or more and in bunks stacked four high. The Mather's Deckhands had their own sink, locker, and usually a desk.)
Duties: Deckhand duties revolve around the loading and unloading of the boat: hosing, sweeping and opening, closing and battening hatches. No matter what time of day or what type of weather conditions, they work during these operations. As the boat pulled into port, one or more of the Deckhands were lowered over the side as the boat was still moving by means of the landing boom and Bo's'n chair. As their feet made contact with the dock, they had to be moving at the same speed as the boat. They were passed the mooring cables and tied up the boat. As the boat left port, this was reversed. While docked, Deckhands assist in the unloading and loading when the boat needed to be shifted along the dock face. Out on the open water, Deckhands are responsible for simple maintenance of the deck, including chipping and painting. Deckhands followed the directions given by the boatswain (bo's'n or bosun).
