{"id":"01KG8AKV4V2VJTDCAN7S8HMRNP","cid":"bafkreibv34cxmbdcder7d7nl2o32xcboun6by7vsgmrb2bqibqdfmiz2tq","type":"section","properties":{"description":"# The Waisters\n## Overview - What this is (type, form, dates, scope)\nThis is a section from the text file [white_jacket.txt](arke:01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY), extracted on January 30, 2026, by the structure-extraction-lambda. The section, labeled \"The Waisters,\" is part of Chapter III of the text. It describes a division of the crew on a man-of-war. The text spans lines 422-436 of the source file.\n\n## Context - Background and provenance from related entities\nThis section is part of the \"Melville Complete Works\" collection ([Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)). The text file \"white_jacket.txt\" is a novel contained within this collection. The section is part of Chapter III, which provides a general overview of the divisions within a man-of-war's crew. The section follows \"The After-guard\" and precedes \"Troglodytes or “_holders_”\" within the chapter.\n\n## Contents - What it contains, key subjects and details\nThe section describes the \"Waisters,\" a group of sailors stationed on the gun-deck. They are responsible for hauling sheets and performing \"ignoble duties\" related to drainage and sewerage. The text portrays them as \"sorry chaps\" who are not involved in the more demanding tasks of sailing. They are described as being \"sons of farmers\" and are assigned to duties related to the chicken coops, pig pens, and potato lockers. The section concludes by stating that the Waisters are the \"tag-rag and bob-tail of the crew\" and that anyone good for nothing else is good enough to be a Waister.\n","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:48.288Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"The Waisters","end_line":436,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.646Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"The Waisters","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":422,"text":"Then, there are the _Waisters_, always stationed on the gun-deck. These\r\nhaul aft the fore and main-sheets, besides being subject to ignoble\r\nduties; attending to the drainage and sewerage below hatches. These\r\nfellows are all Jimmy Duxes—sorry chaps, who never put foot in ratlin,\r\nor venture above the bulwarks. Inveterate “_sons of farmers_,” with the\r\nhayseed yet in their hair, they are consigned to the congenial\r\nsuperintendence of the chicken-coops, pig-pens, and potato-lockers.\r\nThese are generally placed amidships, on the gun-deck of a frigate,\r\nbetween the fore and main hatches; and comprise so extensive an area,\r\nthat it much resembles the market place of a small town. The melodious\r\nsounds thence issuing, continually draw tears from the eyes of the\r\nWaisters; reminding them of their old paternal pig-pens and\r\npotato-patches. They are the tag-rag and bob-tail of the crew; and he\r\nwho is good for nothing else is good enough for a _Waister_.\r\n\r","title":"The Waisters"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJPBDD8KW998HV70PRFQT","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKV4ZTYYZ2T51MDJ7FAJ4","peer_type":"section","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKV4V4GJ1NW28XS0T7K2Q","peer_type":"section","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.563Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:48.501Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}