Railroad iron, grating fashion. Dunnage, if needed, 10 inches on floors, 15 inches in bilges. Cargo ports, if fitted, blocked off with dunnage. Care should be taken to stow liquors, canned goods, and things easily broken open, in parts of the hold and 'tween decks where they can be easily blocked off by less tempting cargo. +Special Cargoes.+ Cargoes of chemicals, fruit, guano, jute, and the like, will require special care and consideration. The deck officers of a merchant vessel will do well if they keep and compare notes on matters such as these. A vast amount of information having to do with the important function of moving the products of the world is going begging for the want of suitable recording. Such knowledge carries with it the possibility for great saving. Merchant mariners, owners, and naval designers take notice. The cargo note book is an important part of the baggage of an officer. +Munitions.+ Cargoes under the general heading of munitions call for the most careful handling. It is well for the Chief Mate to know just what is being stowed, and where. This knowledge should be of use in exercising increased care in the management and handling of the vessel. The Halifax disaster is a case in point. +Cost Data.+ The Chief Mate who is on his job should keep cost data on stevedoring, and in fact on most operations performed on board ship. He should know how many men can work a hatch effectively, and what their pay is, and how much cargo they can stow, say in tons (2,000 lbs.) per working day: Cost data resolves itself into this. Amount of work done—any unit; tons of cargo—sq. ft. of paint. Number of men—and pay: Hatchmen at $.00 per hour. Holdmen at $.00 per hour. Lightermen or truckers at $.00 per hour. Checkers—tally men at $.00 per hour. Time required to do the work. Kind of cargo stowed. Port. Remarks—weather—sea—etc. Cost data, actually kept, often is the foundation for important work later on as superintendent and manager. Keeping cost data is a good way to relieve the monotony of supervising stevedores—it results in a note book of considerable value. +Live Stock.+ Vessels carrying live stock present added problems for the consideration of the Chief Mate. He should see to the proper organization of the cattlemen, their attention to duty, etc. The Chief Mate should be familiar with the laws relating to the carriage of live stock on passenger vessels. Horse slings should be provided for valuable animals. Other cattle taken aboard in the stream are often slung on board by the horns alone. Valuable horses should be placed in padded boxes, placed athwartships, and same fitted with slings under the bellies of the animals.