Friend & fellow 3rd Mainer "Skip" Baker of Topsham used to be a Bo'sn on a destroyer - they used to tune the little whistles with wax, apparantly. Do they still use them or are all of the calls electronic nowadays?
It seems to me that fifes were used in the Navy up through the Civil War - the Ancient Mariners play several calls on thier fife & Drum album, such as "to the fiferail" (whatever that is). I guess the "long roll" was used as a "General Quarters" alert much as it was in the Infantry. I'd be interested in how far back the Bosn's whistle goes in maritime history, and if it was ever used in conjunction with the fife, or replaced it - and when. One of these days I've gotta pick up one of those dandys and learn a few calls on it. Perhaps one of ye Auld Salts can bring one along to the sing and teach us a couple of calls(?). I'd be surprised if Cpt. Steve did not have at least one in the shop somewhere. I'd think a creative ChanteySinger could incorporate a whistle call or two in a song at some point - as bells are frequently used.