XXVIIL] DANTZIC FIR. 233 



octagonal or square form, and are then called " inch- 

 masts." These inch-masts, hand-masts, and spars or 

 poles, if straight, and free from large knots and excess of 

 sap, are much esteemed by the mast-makers, and are con- 

 sidered equal, if not superior, to those obtained from Riga. 



The first selection from the round wood having been 

 made for the mast-pieces, the remainder undergoes a 

 further sorting over, to secure the logs most suitable for 

 conversion into deals, and these are always in great 

 request in England, France, Prussia, &c., the respective 

 governments requiring them in large quantities for the 

 decks of their ships of war. There is also the ordinary 

 demands of the private trade, which are sometimes very 

 considerable. To be fit for deck purposes the deals must 

 be of the very best quality, and free from large or defec- 

 tive knots, cup-shake upon the upper or outer surface, 

 and they must also be free from sap. 



The round wood logs remaining from these two sortings 

 serve for conversion into plank and board for the home 

 or country trade, and, as in this they are not very 

 particular about the sap-wood being removed, it is all 

 worked up very closely, and with the least possible loss. 

 The coarse and irregularly grown trees, which are brought 

 into Dantzic in a round state, are a special class, and 

 require but little consideration ; they pass at once for 

 conversion into railway sleepers, and are exported in 

 large quantities to various parts of the world. 



The square timber also undergoes a very careful 

 sorting with the view to its classification under the heads 

 of crown, best, good, and common middling qualities, and 

 sometimes even making a fifth class, if it be short, small, 

 or irregular.* The prices of these several descriptions 



* There is also a small or undersized class of Memel and Danlzic Fir 

 timber, called Mauerlatten. 



