Sea Time

Like any ordinary canine, every seadog has his day. But unlike that of his terrestrial cousin, a sea-dog's day begins at noon, when the sun slips over the meridian. Ships' runs are reckoned, weeks of work paid, in 24-hour cycles that begin with p. m. instead of a. m. It has been so for years, centuries.

Last week, then, the sea-dogs of the world howled protestingly when it was announced that the 1925 Nautical Almanac would, by vote of the U. S., Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, impose the landlubber's midnight-to-midnight span upon all mariners.

Taciturn captains prophesied wrecks and disaster. They called the change unnecessary, costly, illogical, insane-- the work of professors and astronomers.

"How," asked they, "can you tell the day begins at midnight? You can't see the sun!"

Practical marine associations ordered explanatory booklets for their members.