404 
The larger storage casks somewhat vary in shape and size, but 
for the guidance of those about to enlarge their cellars or build 
new ones, I give here the extreme sizes of some useful casks made 
from Memel oak :— 
Thickness of 
Capacity. Wood. Dimensions. 
head. staves. 
300 gallons .. IJ}in.xl}in. ... 5ft. 10in. x 4ft. Qin. at bilge. 
500 gallons .. lin.xliin. ... ft. 10in, x Sf. 6in. 
750 gallons .. Qin, x Qin. ... 5ft. 10in. x 6ft. 
1,000 gallons . Qhin. x Qin ... 5ft. 10in. x 7ft. 2in. 
2,000 gallons .» 8imx2hin. ... 8ft. x 8ft. din. 
Besides these casks, known as “round” casks, it is often found 
expedient to store wine in “oval” casks, to economise storage room. 
The dimensions of these vessels are as follow :— 
750 gallons ... 2in.x2in. ... 5ft. 10in. x 5ft. 6in. x 6ft. Yin. 
1,000 gallons ... 2hin.x2in. ... 5ft, 10in. x 5ft. 9in. x 8ft. 6in. 
Theoretically, the square cask, viz., the cask with the diameter 
at the bulge equivalent to the length of the cask, is the strongest 
as if too high, as is the case in oval casks, the greater pressure 
sometimes causes wine to leak at the cross groove. 
Gauging Casks 
is the process of mensuration for finding the quantity of liquid any 
vessel is capable of holding, and also for finding its actual contents 
when partly full. 
Several methods are used. One which gives results practically 
correct is by means of the diagonal gauge rod. It offers the ad- 
vantage of doing away with calculations. These measuring rods 
are square rules four feet to five feet long. They are divided into 
imperial gallons and fractions. 
It is diagonally inserted through 
the bunghole into the cask as shown 
in AB, and a reading of the number 
of gallons is taken, just under the 
bung stave. Next take a reading in 
the opposite direction, to check the 
first reading. Should the two tally 
the contents are known at once, but 
should there be a difference between 
the two readings, an average is 
struck. <A proper gallon-measuring 
gauge is not always handy, and in 
Gauging a Cask. that ease an ordinary rod, showing 
linear inches, may be substituted for 
it. The cask being carefully measured as above from the lower 
surface of the bunghole stave to the lower junction of head and 
