oices and Receipts must invariably be given and taken of all
ordnance, ordnance stores, equipments, and small arms, when
transferred from the keeping of one officer to another.

And whenever any article of ordnance is lost or mutilated, the fact
shall be reported to the Bureau, with all the circumstances of the
case, and the value of the same will be deducted from the pay of the
person having it in his possession at the time, unless sufficient
reason for a contrary course should appear.

21. It shall be the duty of the Inspector of Ordnance (or of the
officers who inspect a ship on her return from a cruise) to report to
the Bureau the condition in which the articles under the charge of the
Gunner may be transferred, that his care and attention may be properly
known and appreciated.

22. Officers upon Ordnance duty at Navy Yards may correspond with the
Bureau on subjects connected with Ordnance duties, forwarding their
communications open, to the Commandant of the Yard for transmission.

23. The dates of all circulars, orders, telegrams, or letters to which
reference is made in corresponding with the Bureau, shall be
distinctly quoted.

And the same rule is to be observed in forwarding triplicate Bills,
Bills of Lading, and Invoices, the date of the order or orders being
written across the face in red ink; and the receipt of all telegrams
must be immediately acknowledged.

24. The Commandants will, in forwarding communications, accompany them
with such remarks or recommendations as they may deem proper, and at
any other time make such suggestions as they may consider will promote
the public interest.

25. In shipping or forwarding stores each box or package shall be
numbered, and have the nature of its contents stencilled or marked on
the outside, and noted on the Invoice. The Invoice should in all cases
of shipment accompany the articles.

All stores intended for shipment to squadrons, shall be legibly and
conspicuously addressed to the Commander-in-Chief of the squadron, and
marked for that squadron.

INSPECTION AND PROOF OF NAVAL GUNS

26. All cannon for the navy, cast at private foundries, will be
fabricated in strict accordance with the terms of the contract made
with the Bureau of Ordnance, and subject to the inspection of an
officer detailed to supervise the operations. (See "Instructions for
the Inspection and Proof of Cannon, 1864," for further details.)

27. New guns are to be closely examined a