diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 9ea253b1..d23e7552 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ extern int do_feed(register struct sctstr *, register struct natstr *,
 extern int feed_people(register int *, int, int *);
 /* land.c */
 extern int prod_land(int, int, int *, int);
-extern int feed_land(struct lndstr *, register int *, int, int *, int);
+extern int feed_land(struct lndstr *, int, int *, int);
 /* main.c */
 /* in server.h */
 /* material.c */
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ extern s_char *nxtitemp(struct nstr_item *, int);
 extern struct sctstr *nxtsctp(register struct nstr_sect *);
 /* plague.c */
 extern void do_plague(struct sctstr *, struct natstr *, int);
-extern int plague_people(struct natstr *, int *, u_short *, u_short *, int);
+extern int plague_people(struct natstr *, short *, u_short *, u_short *, int);
 /* plane.c */
 extern int prod_plane(int, int, int *, int);
 /* populace.c */
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ extern void produce_sect(int natnum, int etu, int *bp,
 			 long int (*p_sect)[2], int sector_type);
 /* ship.c */
 extern int prod_ship(int, int, int *, int);
-extern int feed_ship(struct shpstr *, register int *, int, int *, int);
+extern int feed_ship(struct shpstr *, int, int *, int);
 
 /*
  * src/server
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/strv.c b/src/lib/commands/strv.c
index 5faa5451..83ef0e95 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/strv.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/strv.c
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ starv_ships(s_char *range)
     struct nstr_item ni;
     struct shpstr ship;
     int nship = 0;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1], s, needed;
+    int s, needed;
 
     if (!snxtitem(&ni, EF_SHIP, range))
 	return;
@@ -173,9 +173,7 @@ starv_ships(s_char *range)
 	if (!player->owner || !ship.shp_own)
 	    continue;
 
-	getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&ship, EF_SHIP);
-	s = feed_ship(&ship, vec, etu_per_update, &needed, 0);
-
+	s = feed_ship(&ship, etu_per_update, &needed, 0);
 	if (s == 0)
 	    continue;
 	if (nship++ == 0)
@@ -214,7 +212,7 @@ starv_units(s_char *range)
     struct nstr_item ni;
     struct lndstr land;
     int nunit = 0;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1], s, needed;
+    int s, needed;
 
     if (!snxtitem(&ni, EF_LAND, range))
 	return;
@@ -223,9 +221,7 @@ starv_units(s_char *range)
 	if (!player->owner || !land.lnd_own)
 	    continue;
 
-	getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&land, EF_LAND);
-	s = feed_land(&land, vec, etu_per_update, &needed, 0);
-
+	s = feed_land(&land, etu_per_update, &needed, 0);
 	if (s == 0)
 	    continue;
 	if (nunit++ == 0)
diff --git a/src/lib/update/land.c b/src/lib/update/land.c
index 7c403526..453bc8f4 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/land.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/land.c
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ upd_land(register struct lndstr *lp, register int etus,
 {
     struct lchrstr *lcp;
     u_short pstage, ptime;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1];
     int n;
     int min = morale_base - (int)np->nat_level[NAT_HLEV];
     int mult;
@@ -170,8 +169,7 @@ upd_land(register struct lndstr *lp, register int etus,
 	    resupply_commod(lp, I_FOOD);
 
 	if (!player->simulation) {
-	    getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)lp, EF_LAND);
-	    if ((n = feed_land(lp, vec, etus, &needed, 1)) > 0) {
+	    if ((n = feed_land(lp, etus, &needed, 1)) > 0) {
 		wu(0, lp->lnd_own, "%d starved in %s%s\n",
 		   n, prland(lp),
 		   (lp->lnd_effic < LAND_MINEFF ? ", killing it" : ""));
@@ -185,7 +183,7 @@ upd_land(register struct lndstr *lp, register int etus,
 	    pstage = lp->lnd_pstage;
 	    ptime = lp->lnd_ptime;
 	    if (pstage != PLG_HEALTHY) {
-		n = plague_people(np, vec, &pstage, &ptime, etus);
+		n = plague_people(np, lp->lnd_item, &pstage, &ptime, etus);
 		switch (n) {
 		case PLG_DYING:
 		    wu(0, lp->lnd_own,
@@ -229,7 +227,6 @@ upd_land(register struct lndstr *lp, register int etus,
 		lp->lnd_pstage = pstage;
 		lp->lnd_ptime = ptime;
 	    }
-	    putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)lp, EF_LAND);
 	}			/* end !player->simulation */
     }
 }
@@ -248,14 +245,12 @@ landrepair(register struct lndstr *land, struct natstr *np,
     int avail;
     int w_p_eff;
     int mult;
-    int svec[I_MAX + 1];
     int mvec[I_MAX + 1];
 
     lp = &lchr[(int)land->lnd_type];
     sp = getsectp(land->lnd_x, land->lnd_y);
     if (sp->sct_off)
 	return 1;
-    getvec(VT_ITEM, svec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SECTOR);
     mult = 1;
     if (np->nat_level[NAT_TLEV] < land->lnd_tech * 0.85)
 	mult = 2;
@@ -360,8 +355,7 @@ landrepair(register struct lndstr *land, struct natstr *np,
  * returns the number who starved, if any.
  */
 int
-feed_land(struct lndstr *lp, register int *vec, int etus, int *needed,
-	  int doit)
+feed_land(struct lndstr *lp, int etus, int *needed, int doit)
 {
     double food_eaten, ship_eaten;
     int ifood_eaten;
@@ -388,32 +382,32 @@ feed_land(struct lndstr *lp, register int *vec, int etus, int *needed,
      * the ship, tho...
      */
 /* doit - Only try to take food off the ship during the update */
-    if (ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD] && lp->lnd_ship >= 0 && doit) {
-	need = ifood_eaten - vec[I_FOOD];
+    if (ifood_eaten > lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] && lp->lnd_ship >= 0 && doit) {
+	need = ifood_eaten - lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD];
 	sp = getshipp(lp->lnd_ship);
 	ship_eaten = etus * eatrate * (sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL]
 				       + sp->shp_item[I_MILIT]
 				       + sp->shp_item[I_UW]);
 	if (sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] - need > ship_eaten) {
-	    vec[I_FOOD] += need;
+	    lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] += need;
 	    sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] -= need;
 	} else if (sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] - ship_eaten > 0) {
-	    vec[I_FOOD] += sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] - ship_eaten;
+	    lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] += sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] - ship_eaten;
 	    sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] -= sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] - ship_eaten;
 	}
     }
 
-    if (ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD]) {
-	*needed = ifood_eaten - vec[I_FOOD];
-	people_left = (vec[I_FOOD] + 0.01) / (food_eaten + 0.01);
+    if (ifood_eaten > lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD]) {
+	*needed = ifood_eaten - lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD];
+	people_left = (lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] + 0.01) / (food_eaten + 0.01);
 	/* only want to starve off at most 1/2 the populace. */
 	if (people_left < 0.5)
 	    people_left = 0.5;
 	starved = total_people * (1 - people_left);
-	vec[I_MILIT] -= starved;
-	vec[I_FOOD] = 0;
+	lp->lnd_item[I_MILIT] -= starved;
+	lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] = 0;
     } else {
-	vec[I_FOOD] -= (int)food_eaten;
+	lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] -= (int)food_eaten;
     }
     return starved;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/update/plague.c b/src/lib/update/plague.c
index 94ba2702..115d9114 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/plague.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/plague.c
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ static int infect_people(struct natstr *, struct sctstr *);
 void
 do_plague(struct sctstr *sp, struct natstr *np, int etu)
 {
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1];
     u_short pstage, ptime;
     int n;
 
@@ -66,8 +65,7 @@ do_plague(struct sctstr *sp, struct natstr *np, int etu)
 	pstage = infect_people(np, sp);
 	ptime = 0;
     } else {
-	getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SECTOR);
-	n = plague_people(np, vec, &pstage, &ptime, etu);
+	n = plague_people(np, sp->sct_item, &pstage, &ptime, etu);
 	switch (n) {
 	case PLG_DYING:
 	    wu(0, sp->sct_own, "PLAGUE deaths reported in %s.\n",
@@ -107,7 +105,6 @@ do_plague(struct sctstr *sp, struct natstr *np, int etu)
 	default:
 	    break;
 	}
-	putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SECTOR);
     }
     if (sp->sct_item[I_CIVIL] == 0 && sp->sct_item[I_MILIT] == 0
 	&& !has_units(sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y, sp->sct_own, 0)) {
@@ -154,7 +151,7 @@ infect_people(struct natstr *np, struct sctstr *sp)
  * stage.  No reports generated here anymore.
  */
 int
-plague_people(struct natstr *np, register int *vec,
+plague_people(struct natstr *np, short *vec,
 	      u_short *pstage, u_short *ptime,
 	      int etus)
 {
diff --git a/src/lib/update/ship.c b/src/lib/update/ship.c
index e9e303dc..2e043bea 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/ship.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/ship.c
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ upd_ship(register struct shpstr *sp, register int etus,
 {
     struct sctstr *sectp;
     struct mchrstr *mp;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1];
     u_short pstage, ptime;
     int oil_gained;
     int max_oil;
@@ -163,19 +162,18 @@ upd_ship(register struct shpstr *sp, register int etus,
 	}
 
 	if (!player->simulation) {
-	    getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SHIP);
 	    sectp = getsectp(sp->shp_x, sp->shp_y);
 
 	    if ((mp->m_flags & M_OIL) && sectp->sct_type == SCT_WATER) {
 		/*
 		 * take care of oil production
 		 */
-		oil_gained = roundavg((vec[I_CIVIL] * etus / 10000.0)
+		oil_gained = roundavg((sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL] * etus / 10000.0)
 				      * sectp->sct_oil);
-		vec[I_OIL] += oil_gained;
+		sp->shp_item[I_OIL] += oil_gained;
 		max_oil = vl_find(V_OIL, mp->m_vtype, mp->m_vamt, mp->m_nv);
-		if (vec[I_OIL] > max_oil)
-		    vec[I_OIL] = max_oil;
+		if (sp->shp_item[I_OIL] > max_oil)
+		    sp->shp_item[I_OIL] = max_oil;
 		product = &pchr[P_OIL];
 		if (product->p_nrdep != 0 && oil_gained > 0) {
 		    resource = ((s_char *)sectp) + product->p_nrndx;
@@ -184,17 +182,17 @@ upd_ship(register struct shpstr *sp, register int etus,
 		}
 	    }
 	    if ((mp->m_flags & M_FOOD) && sectp->sct_type == SCT_WATER) {
-		vec[I_FOOD] += ((vec[I_CIVIL] * etus) / 1000.0)
+		sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] += ((sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL] * etus) / 1000.0)
 		    * sectp->sct_fertil;
 	    }
-	    if ((n = feed_ship(sp, vec, etus, &needed, 1)) > 0) {
+	    if ((n = feed_ship(sp, etus, &needed, 1)) > 0) {
 		wu(0, sp->shp_own, "%d starved on %s\n", n, prship(sp));
 		if (n > 10)
 		    nreport(sp->shp_own, N_DIE_FAMINE, 0, 1);
 	    }
 	    max_food = vl_find(V_FOOD, mp->m_vtype, mp->m_vamt, mp->m_nv);
-	    if (vec[I_FOOD] > max_food)
-		vec[I_FOOD] = max_food;
+	    if (sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] > max_food)
+		sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] = max_food;
 	    /*
 	     * do plague stuff.  plague can't break out on ships,
 	     * but it can still kill people.
@@ -202,7 +200,7 @@ upd_ship(register struct shpstr *sp, register int etus,
 	    pstage = sp->shp_pstage;
 	    ptime = sp->shp_ptime;
 	    if (pstage != PLG_HEALTHY) {
-		n = plague_people(np, vec, &pstage, &ptime, etus);
+		n = plague_people(np, sp->shp_item, &pstage, &ptime, etus);
 		switch (n) {
 		case PLG_DYING:
 		    wu(0, sp->shp_own,
@@ -247,8 +245,7 @@ upd_ship(register struct shpstr *sp, register int etus,
 		sp->shp_pstage = pstage;
 		sp->shp_ptime = ptime;
 	    }
-	    putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SHIP);
-	    pops[sp->shp_own] += vec[I_CIVIL];
+	    pops[sp->shp_own] += sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL];
 	}
     }
 }
@@ -423,8 +420,7 @@ shiprepair(register struct shpstr *ship, struct natstr *np,
  * returns the number who starved, if any.
  */
 int
-feed_ship(struct shpstr *sp, register int *vec, int etus, int *needed,
-	  int doit)
+feed_ship(struct shpstr *sp, int etus, int *needed, int doit)
 {
     double food_eaten, land_eaten;
     int ifood_eaten;
@@ -438,63 +434,65 @@ feed_ship(struct shpstr *sp, register int *vec, int etus, int *needed,
     if (opt_NOFOOD)
 	return 0;		/* no food no work to do */
 
-    total_people = vec[I_CIVIL] + vec[I_MILIT] + vec[I_UW];
+    total_people
+	= sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL] + sp->shp_item[I_MILIT] + sp->shp_item[I_UW];
     food_eaten = etus * eatrate * total_people;
     ifood_eaten = (int)food_eaten;
     if (food_eaten - ifood_eaten > 0)
 	ifood_eaten++;
     starved = 0;
     *needed = 0;
-    if (!player->simulation && ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD])
-	vec[I_FOOD] += supply_commod(sp->shp_own, sp->shp_x, sp->shp_y,
-				     I_FOOD, ifood_eaten - vec[I_FOOD]);
+    if (!player->simulation && ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD])
+	sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]
+	    += supply_commod(sp->shp_own, sp->shp_x, sp->shp_y,
+			     I_FOOD, ifood_eaten - sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]);
 
 /* doit - only steal food from land units during the update */
-    if (ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD] && sp->shp_nland > 0 && doit) {
+    if (ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] && sp->shp_nland > 0 && doit) {
 	snxtitem_all(&ni, EF_LAND);
 	while ((lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni, 0)) &&
-	       ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD]) {
+	       ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]) {
 	    if (lp->lnd_ship != sp->shp_uid)
 		continue;
-	    need = ifood_eaten - vec[I_FOOD];
+	    need = ifood_eaten - sp->shp_item[I_FOOD];
 	    land_eaten = etus * eatrate * lnd_getmil(lp);
 	    if (lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] - need > land_eaten) {
-		vec[I_FOOD] += need;
+		sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] += need;
 		lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] -= need;
 	    } else if (lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] - land_eaten > 0) {
-		vec[I_FOOD] += lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] - land_eaten;
+		sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] += lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] - land_eaten;
 		lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] -= lp->lnd_item[I_FOOD] - land_eaten;
 	    }
 	}
     }
 
-    if (ifood_eaten > vec[I_FOOD]) {
-	*needed = ifood_eaten - vec[I_FOOD];
-	can_eat = vec[I_FOOD] / (etus * eatrate);
+    if (ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]) {
+	*needed = ifood_eaten - sp->shp_item[I_FOOD];
+	can_eat = sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] / (etus * eatrate);
 	/* only want to starve off at most 1/2 the populace. */
 	if (can_eat < total_people / 2)
 	    can_eat = total_people / 2;
 
 	to_starve = total_people - can_eat;
-	while (to_starve && vec[I_UW]) {
+	while (to_starve && sp->shp_item[I_UW]) {
 	    to_starve--;
 	    starved++;
-	    vec[I_UW]--;
+	    sp->shp_item[I_UW]--;
 	}
-	while (to_starve && vec[I_CIVIL]) {
+	while (to_starve && sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL]) {
 	    to_starve--;
 	    starved++;
-	    vec[I_CIVIL]--;
+	    sp->shp_item[I_CIVIL]--;
 	}
-	while (to_starve && vec[I_MILIT]) {
+	while (to_starve && sp->shp_item[I_MILIT]) {
 	    to_starve--;
 	    starved++;
-	    vec[I_MILIT]--;
+	    sp->shp_item[I_MILIT]--;
 	}
 
-	vec[I_FOOD] = 0;
+	sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] = 0;
     } else {
-	vec[I_FOOD] -= (int)food_eaten;
+	sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] -= (int)food_eaten;
     }
     return starved;
 }