Rations per week per Man according to Regulations of 1818.
Suet-1/2 pound 6 ½ cents
Cheese-6 ounces 6 ½ cents
Beef-3 ½ pounds 29 cents
Pork-3 pounds 28 ½ cents
Flour-1 pound 4 cents
Bread-98 ounces 30 ½ cents
Butter-2 ounces 3 cents
Sugar-7 ounces 7 cents
Tea-4 ounces 12 cents
Peas-1 pint 34 cents
Rice-1 pint 5 cents
Molasses-1/2 pint 3 cents
Vinegar-1/2 pint 2 cents
Spirits-3 ½ pints 35 cents
Very young boys, both enlisted and midshipmen, were prohibited from the use of spirits but were given money instead. This age was raised to 21 in 1842 by an Act of Congress. The same year raisins, dried apples, other fruits, coffee, cocoa, pickles, cranberries and "sour crout" were added to the ration, to be used in lieu of other parts of it, not to exceed the value set by law. The spirit ration for enlisted men was abolished by law in 1862.
Until refrigeration was available on ship board salt beef and pork, also butter and fish, were preserved in brine and frequently became so bad they had to be thrown overboard. Fresh meat and vegetables were used in port by both officers and crew and fishing tackle was standard equipment in order to provide fresh fish whenever possible. Turtles, turtle eggs, cocoanuts, fruits and vegetables were secured whenever possible. The captain sometimes turned the deck into a veritable farmyard with live pigs, ducks, geese, and chickens for use after leaving port.
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