RULES & REGULATIONS OF THE NAVY-YARD AT GOSPORT

It being essential in the Public Interest, that the Officers, Workmen, and others employed in the Service of the United States, at the Navy-Yard at Gosport should conduct themselves with Order and regularity in the execution of their several Duties, whereby  the same may be carried with  economy and Dispatch – I DO HEREBT ORDER AND DIRECT, That all Officers, Workmen and others, of every denomination whatsoever, employed therein, do conform themselves to the following REGULATIONS as a GENERAL RULE, for their Conduct.

OFFICERS.
Each Officer will receive from the Constructor such orders and Instructions, from time to time, as may be judged best for the Public Service to which he must undeviatingly adhere. He will  have such persons placed under his directions as may be deemed necessary; will direct them in the performance  of such parts of the work as he may be entrusted with, which it will be his duty to forward by all means within his power, and see that the same be properly and efficiently executed, at the smallest expense possible.

He will discourage those placed under his direction from quarreling, committing excesses of any kind, or absenting themselves from work. He will use his utmost endeavors to protect all public property placed under his charge, or otherwise disposed. It is expected that he shall attend the business of the Navy Yard in preference to any other and shall on no account absent himself except in case of sickness, or other unavoidable cause. He will be careful to check each person under his direction, for the time he may be absent from his work; and observe those who show an idle disposition; and in all cases to report transgressors.

ARTIFICERS, LABOURERS, &c., &c.
All persons on being entered in the Navy-Yard, will report their real Names to the Constructor and Clerk, that they may be inserted in the roll. Such Wages will be allowed to each Workmen or other person, as the Constructor may judge his qualifications entitle him to receive,  which shall be paid on the Saturday of each week (or as soon after as can be done) to himself, or to who may be qualified  to receive the same as circumstances may be. To each Workman who may be sent on board any ship or vessel to work, the same lying below Fort Norfolk, one-quarter of a dollar per day, will be allowed him in addition to his Wages at the yard; to those who may work on board any ship or vessel above that place, the same wages will be paid him, as if had actually worked in the yard and no more.

As soon as possible after his name has been entered on the roll, he will be placed under the direction of a Quarterman, or other Officer, as occasion may require, to whom he will apply for instructions respecting his work, and from whose orders he shall in no wise deviate, (unless directed to do so by a Superior Officer) but in all respects he is to execute the same with diligence, care, fidelity, economy and dispatch.

The time of Daily Labour will be from Sun-rise until Sun-set: The commencement and termination of which will be noticed by the Ringing of the Yard-bell, as well as at Breakfast and Dinner;  for the former three quarter of the Hour in Winter, and one Hour in Summer will be allowed; for the latter one Hour in Winter and two in Summer: The Winter to be considered from the first of September to the first of May; and the Summer from the first of May to the first of September following. N.B., From Sun-rise to noon is to be understood as compromising one-half a Day’s Work; and from Noon to Sun-set for the remaining half – and he shall not at any time quit his Work before the Bell rings for that purpose without leave of his Officer, unless compelled thereto  by rain or other unavoidable cause.

To perform his work in the best and most expeditious manner – he shall provide himself with such Tools as the officer placed over him may deem requisite for his occupation.- He shall not make use of Tools belonging to another person, without his leave, neither shall he conceal injure or destroy them.

He shall not loiter at his work nor set an example of idleness to others by unnecessary  conversations or other ways – He shall neither Game, Quarrel, give abusive Language, get intoxicated, or insult any person whatever within the Yard, nor when absent of Public Duty.

He is not to perform work for individuals during the hours of Work; He shall not leave his Work to perform Military Duty without leave (except in case of emergency) unless the Fine for absence shall exceed the amount of a Day’s Work.

He shall not willfully Waste, Destroy nor Embezzle any part of Public Property, nor suffer others to do it; and it is strictly forbidden to cut up any serviceable Timber, Boards, &c for Chips – He will not break the Fence of the Yard, or Enclosures, nor take any Board, &c from the same, nor suffer others to do it, without leave first obtained from the principal Officer at that time in the Yard.

In case of a Fire happening in the Yard, or any Ship of War, or other Public Vessel lying in the vicinity thereof, it will be required of him to use every endeavor in his power to extinguish the flame, and all Public Property; that may be in any wise endangered thereby  -  And it is strictly ordered that no Fires shall be kindled in the Yard, but at such places as may be appointed for that purpose.

He will be accountable for such Tools, Implements &c, belonging to the United State, as he may occasionally be furnished with, and in case they are lost or willfully destroyed, the amount will be deducted from his wages.

If any Person finds himself insulted or personally aggrieved, he is required to make his case known to the Constructor or in his absence to the Superior Officer, who will take the same into consideration, and afford him such redress as circumstances may dictate.

As it may happen that Workmen and others, whose residence is distant from the Yard, may have on occasion  to quit their Work on Saturday Afternoons at an early hour, these will have the time noticed, and when the same shall amount to a Day’s Work, it will be deducted from their wages.

A Printed Copy of the preceding “Rules for the Regulation of the NAVY YARD”, shall be hung up in the CLERK’s OFFICE, or some other conspicuous place for the perusal of all Persons concerned, and no plea will be admitted of ignorance of any part thereof.

Given under my hand at the Navy Yard, Gosport ,
Josiah Fox, Naval Constructor and Superintendent

First U.S. Navy Rules for Operating the Gosport Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia.
Printed in 1800