Rate

The daily variation of a timepiece; to determine the running of a chronometer in respect to a variation from a standard; to ascertain the extent of gain or loss in respect to true time.

Gaining Rate. When the chronometer runs too fast.

Losing Rate. When the chronometer runs too slow.

Sea Rate. On arrival in port after a voyage it will generally be found that the accumulated error of the chronometer, according to the record kept by the navigator, and which is based upon the shore rate furnished by the chronometer-makers, does not represent the correct aggregate amount of the chronometer deviation; thus proving that the daily rate given the navigator before sailing was not maintained by the instrument at sea. Now, in order to ascertain the sea rate, subtract between the error on the day of sailing and the gross error, determined when the vessel reached port, and then divide the remainder by the number of days at sea, and the answer will be the sea rate of the chronometer.

Shore Rate. (See Sea Rate.)