Port Bars to Pratique

Pieces of timber which secure the port shutters after they are closed.

The superintendent of a line of vessels.

Taxes levied upon vessels in the way of wharfage, tonnage money, light money, fee for health officer, port warden, harbor master, etc.

Holes in the sides of a vessel for guns; round glass windows in the vessel's sides for giving light and air; these are styled dead lights as a rule. (See Cargo Port and Lumber Port.)

A harbor having a custom house.

A frame-work of glass to fit into the ports in pleasant weather at sea, or when at anchor, for the admission of light.

The hinged covers for the port holes.

Pieces of timber bolted horizontally inside of and flush with the lower edge of the port for the gun-carriage to fetch up against.

A square-rigged vessel is on the port tack when the port tacks of her courses are inboard, or any vessel is on the port tack when the wind is blowing on the port side of the ship.

An order to the helmsman to put the tiller toward the port side of the vessel.

An officer having guardianship over the shipping in a port, where he performs the duties of a harbor master (see same); one whose duty it is to examine the hatches of newly arrived vessels, and the stowage of the cargo, so that in case of damage to same the responsibility may be fixed.

(See Dock.)

A double hand-lamp carried by small boats when under way. It has two slides, showing a green and red light respectively as the slides are withdrawn.

The yards are said to be a-portoise when they are resting on the rail.

A physalis; a compound found floating on the surface of the ocean, the lower or submerged part being provided with tentacles, and supporting a transparent shell-like hull with a silken lateen sail, which can be lowered (collapsed) and set at will by the little creature.

A Holland lighter.

A limited (generally two days) quarantine placed upon a newly-arrived vessel from an unhealthy port by the health authorities of the place, as a matter of precaution, during the sickly season.

Admitted to Pratique is the term employed to signify that the port surgeon is satisfied as to the general health of the ship's company and the bill of health obtained from the last port of clearance, and that he will permit the vessel to have unrestricted communication with the shore, if, at the expiration of the pratique, no contagious sickness has developed on board.