Possible Clues:

• Temperate
• Sober sailors ring us after rough time
• I mess about at sea — getting dry?
• Sparing sort of item sailors ring us about
• Temperate mob at issue rioting
• I mess about, though in a way that's restrained
• I mess about though in a way that's restrained
• Indulging only moderately (in food/drink)
• Moderate Moabites struggled with you and me
• Cook I mess about, not eating or drinking a lot