Bottomry to Bowline Lizard

A bottomry bond is a contract entered into in order for the master to secure a loan of money on the ship upon maritime risks which are to be borne by the lender. It takes effect at the termination of the voyage and at the port or place specified in the document. One of the conditions of the bond is that in the event of the loss of the vessel before reaching port to which it is bound, the bond cancels itself; but this risk may be provided against by the lender of the money insuring the bond. Oftentimes the freight and the cargo are included in the bond, and in such a case the bond is called a Respondentia Bond or Bond of Bottomry and Respondentia. In the latter case the holder's lien is first on the ship, next on the freight, and last on the cargo. The prerequisites to the validity of the bottomry bond given by the master of a vessel are, that it is given in the absence of the ship owner and at such a distance from his home, combined with such circumstances as to make it impossible to consult him in relation to it without injurious delay; that the money, repairs, or supplies for which the bond is given are necessary for the ship to complete her voyage. In the case of two or more bonds given on the same voyage, the last one takes precedence for payment, and so on in retrograde order.

Preserved beef put up in air-tight cans and carried in large quantities by naval vessels. Seamen call this "Bully Beef" and "Soup-and-Bully"--the latter because the meat and the liquid contents of the can are used for making soup in the absence of fresh beef.

In reference to a vessel's destination.

The forward part of a vessel on either side. (See Apple Bows, Bluff-bowed.)

An old navigating instrument. (See Part III.)

Chafing gear made of rope and placed around a vessel's bows to prevent them from being chafed from contact with ice.

The towers placed on each bow of the vessel, and inside of which is contained the lamp for illuminating the colored glass window. These towers are a great improvement over the side-light lanterns. They are also known as Side-light Castles and Side-light Towers.

A sea coming from a direction so as to break against the vessel's bow.

A mast or yard is said to be bowed when it is set up so taut as to spring it.

The anchors that are carried at the cat-heads. (See Best Bower.)

A noose made in a rope with a certain kind of knot. (See engraving.) A rope attached to the bridle on the leach of a square sail for the purpose of hauling the leach forward so as to sail as close as possible to the wind. When sailing this way a vessel is said to be on a bowline. To steady out a bowline is to haul it taut.

The span extending between the two cringles on the leaches of a square sail, and to which the bowline is secured.

Eyes worked in the belt-rope on the leaches of square sails, and in which the bowline bridle is made fast.

A loop-knot made in the end of a rope. (See engraving.)

A short rope pendant with a thimble spliced in each end, and a part of the bowline bridle.