=====================+===========================+================== Rear-Admiral |Commissary-General | Line-Ship Captain |Chief Commissary, 1st class|Medical Commandant Frigate Captain | ” ” 2d ” |Medical Chief of | | Staff Corvette Captain |Commissary |Staff Surgeon Lieutenant, 1st class|Asst. Commissary, 1st class|Line-Ship Surgeon ” 2d ” | ” ” 2d ” |Frigate Surgeon Ensign | ” ” 3d ” |Corvette Surgeon Midshipman | | Cadet |Commissary Cadet | =====================+===+=======================+================== | | Engineer Commandant | | Chief-Engineer, 1st class| | ” ” 2d ” | | ” ” 3d ” |Chief Machinist |Naval Pastor Engineer, 1st class |Machinist, 1st class | ” Curate ” 2d ” | 2d ” | ” Chaplain ” 3d ” | 3d ” | | | Engineer Cadet | | -------------------------+-----------------------+------------------ As the recruits advance in instruction, they are picked out for the formation of classes for instruction aboard ship, and at certain intervals a class is transferred to the guard-ship Bellona, where their instruction is extended somewhat, and during the course on this ship selections are made of those who are best qualified to become helmsmen and gunners. The course of instruction on this ship lasts for from six weeks to two months. From the Bellona the classes are transferred to the different school-ships in accordance with the especial line of instruction that is to be followed. The seamen go to the corvette Minerva, to which vessel also recruits who are already sailors are sent direct from the depot without passing through the Bellona, and men who have passed either the helmsman’s or gunner’s course come here for their final course of seamanship. The Minerva is kept cruising almost constantly for exercise in seamen’s duties, and the course of a class is about six months. At the end of this course those who show sufficient aptitude are transferred to the other ships for the complete course; the remainder, as well as all men who have passed the entire course, return to the depot, forming one or more of the twelve companies in readiness for transfer to any ship going into commission.