TRIVIA BITS … WATCHES AT SEA

TRIVIA BITS …

WATCHES AT SEA

 

As early as the 15th century, a bell was used to sound the time on board a ship. Time was kept with an hourglass. The bell was rung every half hour of a four-hour watch.

Reproduction half hour sand glass

A 24-hour day was divided into six watches of four hours each, including the first watch (beginning at 20:00 hrs), middle watch, morning watch, forenoon watch, afternoon watch, and dog watch.

The dog watch (16:00 - 20:00 hrs) could be divided into two two-hour watches, the first dog watch and the second or last dog watch, to allow for the taking of the evening meal.