58 NAVAL SCIENCES. 



The' sizeV form, and position of the sails vary to a great degree. The 

 yard-sails are the most common and the most important ; they are hung 

 upon the yards, and form a quadrangle which is somewhat smaller above 

 than below. Next to these are the staysails, which form an irregular 

 quadrangle almost in the shape of a triangle. They are drawn up and 

 down on the stays by small rope-rings or wooden hoops. A large ship-of- 

 war often carries thirty-eight sails, and sometimes more, but they are never 

 all unfurled together, as in that case one would interfere with another. 



The mainsail (pi. 1 1, fig. 1 a) is 97 feet wide at the foot, 93 feet 10 inches 

 at the head, and 45 feet 6 inches high, and contains 4305 square feet. The 

 main topsail, d, is 96 feet wide at the foot, 60 feet 9 inches at the head, 

 60 feet 9 inches high, and contains 4750 square feet. The main top-gallant 

 sail, g (also pi. 10, fig. 4), is 63 feet 3 inches wide at the foot, 43 feet 6 inches 

 at the head, 32 feet 6 inches in height, and contains 3761 square feet. The 

 main royal {pi. II, Jig. ] j) bears the same proportion to the top-gallant sail 

 as that does to the topsail. Sometimes two small staysails in addition are 

 attached to each side of the masts. The main staysail is triangular and 

 hangs upon the main stay. The main-top staysail is carried over the former 

 on the main-topmast stay. The main top-gallant staysail is smaller than 

 the former. The main-top studding-sails are fastened to the studding-sail 

 booms on each side of the vessel, which are extended from the two arms of 

 the main yard. The main top-gallant studding-sails are hung to the yard 

 on each side of the main top-gallant sail, their lower ends being secured to 

 the main-topmast studding-sail-booms. In very calm weather, water-saih 

 are stretched under the maintop-studding-sails. They are seldom used, as 

 they take the wind out of the fore-studding-sails. 



The foresail (pi. 11, Jig. 1 b) is 81 feet broad at the foot, 78 feet 6 inches 

 at the head, 40 feet high, and has 3210 square feet. It is arranged in the 

 same manner as the yard sails on the main mast. The fore topsail (e) is 

 82 feet broad at the foot, 51 feet 6 inches at the head, 53 feet 6 inches high, 

 and has 3577 square feet. The /ore top-gallant sail (h) is 54 feet 9 inches 

 wide at the foot, 38 feet 6 inches at the head, 28 feet 8 inches high, and has 

 1343 square feet. The/ore royal (h) is smaller than the former; the fore 

 staysail (n) is triangular ; the jih (m) is somewhat smaller ; the flying jib 

 (o) is hung on the stay passing down from the foretop cross-trees. On the 

 foremast, there are also the fore studding-sails, the fore topmast studding- 

 sails, and the fore top-gallant studding-sails. The spritsail is stretched 

 under the bowsprit on the spritsail yard, its sheets being secured on the 

 fore quarters. 



The mizen-sail, c, is a gaff sail, called the spanker, 62 feet 6 inches broad 

 at the foot, 47 feet at the top, forward 32 feet 6 inches high, and aft 63 feet 

 6 inches high, and has 2,457 square feet. This sail was formerly made 

 broader, but thus being awkward to manage, its size was reduced. The 

 mizen top-sail, f is 63 feet 6 inches broad at the foot, 41 feet- 9 inches at 

 the head, 43 feet 6 inches high, ard has 2,300 square feet. The mizen top- 

 gallant-sail, i, is 43 feet 2 inches broad at the foot, 32 feet 6 inches broad 

 at the head, 22 feet high, and has 836 square feet. The mizen royal, I. 

 710 



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