Marking of lifeboats. All lifeboats shall have the number of boat plainly marked or painted on each bow, in figures not less than 3 inches high. Where lifeboats are carried on both sides of a vessel, lifeboat No. 1 shall be forward on starboard side of vessel, lifeboat No. 2 forward on port side, lifeboat No. 3 next abaft lifeboat No. 1 on starboard side, lifeboat No. 4 next abaft lifeboat No. 2 on port side, and so forth, the odd-numbered boats being on the starboard side and the even-numbered boats being on the port side of vessel. All lifeboats shall have their cubic contents and the number of persons such lifeboat is allowed to carry plainly marked or painted on each bow in letters and figures not less than three-fourths of an inch high. All lifeboats shall also have the number of persons allowed to be carried plainly marked or painted on top of at least two of the thwarts, in letters and figures not less than 3 inches high. When the letters and figures above required are painted on lifeboats, such letters and figures shall be dark on a light ground or light on a dark ground. Lifeboats and life rafts kept clear for launching. The decks on which lifeboats of any class or life rafts are carried shall be kept clear of freight or any other obstruction that would interfere with the immediate launching of the lifeboats or life rafts. (R. S. Secs. 4405, 4488.) Boat-davit falls and receptacles therefor. It shall be the duty of the master or officer in charge of all vessels to see that the boat-davit falls shall at all times be in readiness for immediate use, and protected from ice, and not painted, and such boat-davit falls on all boats not swung out at boat drills shall be cast loose and overhauled; and it shall be unlawful to stow in any lifeboat articles other than those required by law and regulations. On all steamers over 1,000 gross tons, covered tubs, boxes, or reels shall be provided in which to stow away the boat-davit falls. Care of lifeboats. Lifeboats shall be stripped, cleaned, thoroughly overhauled, and painted at least once in every year. Embarkation of the passengers in the lifeboats and rafts. Suitable arrangements shall be made for embarking the passengers in the boats, in accord with regulations by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce. In vessels which carry rafts there shall be a number of rope or wooden ladders always available for use in embarking the persons on to the rafts. Certificated lifeboat men—manning of the boats.