Mates
Mates are the licensed men who pilot the boat and are in command of their respective four-hour watch. There are three Mates: Third Mate, Second Mate, and First Mate. The First Mate is second in command of the boat. Mates are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard to practice that trade. The Mate's ticket is the stepping stone to Master's papers. Mates are tested on knowledge of the Lakes, navigation, safety, and general seamanship. They move up with service time and further testing. In the Mather's 1925 configuration, the Third Mate shared a room with the Second Mate. In the 1950s, one of the guest rooms was converted to a Mates cabin and the Mates were all quartered separately.
Duties: The Mate on watch had the responsibility navigating the boat. He monitors weather and keeps alert as to the ship's surroundings. In effect, he commands the boat for the Captain. Aside from navigation, each Mate had some different responsibilities. The First Mate is in charge of loading the boat and assignment of work to the deck gang. The Second Mate is responsible for the paperwork and payroll for the ship's crew. The Third Mate is responsible for all of the navigation instruments, charts, logs, and for all paperwork that the navigation of the vessel produced. At times of vessel movement up narrow rivers, harbors, and docking, two Mates act as spotters for the Captain --one forward and one aft, calling out distances off from obstacles and docks, and also putting Deckhands over the side to tie up or cast off. While the vessel is unloading, the Mate on watch oversees the unload, directs unloading machinery, and orders ballast to properly trim the boat.
