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 Dantzic Fir 
timber, called Mauerlatten. 
