DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHIPS. 69 



planks and seams ; the caulking-tools (figs. 26, 27), for driving in the oakum ; 

 the caulking mallets {figs. 31, 32, 32 6) ; the pitch ladles (figs. 17, 18) ; the 

 tar-brush (fig. 33) ; and the callipers (fig. 34), used to measure the circum- 

 ference of the different spars and bolts. 



3. The Different Kinds of Ships. 



In common parlance, every vessel that sails on the high seas, or perhaps 

 only navigates a river, is called a ship; but seamen make nicer distinctions, 

 and give that name only to vessels w^ith three masts and square sails. It is 

 not easy to divide vessels into exact classes, as the purposes for vi^hich they 

 are intended, their size and construction, the arrangement of their masts 

 and rigging, their armament, &c., establish differences, which are again set 

 aside in particular cases by the combination of different qualities. The 

 best method probably is to classify vessels according to the purposes for 

 which they are designed, although in that case the same form will recur in 

 different divisions. 



In the external figure of a ship we distinguish the parts above water and 

 those below water ; the first are called the casing, the second the fioor. 

 The form of the floor is determined by the purpose of the ship. A ship of 

 war must have the lowest guns at least four feet above the highest water- 

 line ; it must sail and steer well ; it must carry numerous sails ; it must not 

 roll nor pitch much, nor make much lee-way. A merchantman must sail and 

 steer well, carry many sails, lie easy on the water, contain a large cargo, 

 and require only a small crew. It is difficult to unite these qualities, some 

 of them demanding a broad, others a narrow vessel. Narrow vessels are 

 rapid sailers ; they make but little lee-way, but are contracted for room, 

 and are apt to pitch Broad ships give more space, and if the keel is sharp 

 and deep, can carry much heavier sail, as the masts can be made a foot 

 higher for every inch in depth of the keel below the planking ; but if the 

 keel is flat, they pitch and make great lee- way. The English make the 

 greatest breadth of the ship towards the bow, believing that in that case she 

 sails better and minds the helm more readily ; yet it has been shown by 

 experiments in France that it is best to have the greatest breadth amid- 

 ships. 



The most important points in the construction of a ship are firmness and 

 durability ; all its parts, therefore, must not only possess the requisite sound- 

 ness and strength, but must be so closely connected with each other, as to 

 be able to resist the combined force of the sea and the wind. 



The objects of the voyages, their duration, and the climate of the coun- 

 tries visited, have an influence on the size and construction of the vessel ; 

 we have, consequently, according to the size, ships of such a number of 

 cannon ; of so many tons ; of the first, second, and third class, and the like ; 

 and according to the construction, frigates, cutters, galleys, &c., and steam- 

 boats. According to the objects of the voyages, we have ships of war, 

 transport ships, merchant ships, slave ships, mail ships, privateers, and others. 



ICONOORAPHIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. VOL. III. 46 721 



