Barograph. Self-recording barometer, either mercurial or aneroid. That used at sea is,
strictly speaking, an Aneroidograph.
Barometer. Instrument for measuring pressure of atmosphere. For use at sea it can be
either 'mercurial' or 'aneroid'.
Barometric Light. Luminous glow in vacuum of a barometer when mercury is agitated.
Probably due to friction between mercury and glass, or to splashing of mercury, when these occur in a vacuum.
Barometric Tendency. Rate and direction in which barometric pressure changes. Is of
utmost importance in weather prediction.
Barothermograph. Instrument that gives a graphical registration of both pressure and
temperature.
Barque. Sailing vessel with three or more masts: fore and aft rigged on aftermast, squared
rigged on all others.
Barquentine. Sailing vessel with three or more masts. Square rigged on foremast, fore
and aft rigged on all others.
Barracuda. Edible but vicious pike-shaped fish that attacks fishing nets and bathers. Barratry. Any wrongful act knowingly done by the master or crew of a vessel to the
detriment of the owner of either ship or cargo; and which was done without knowledge or consent of owner or owners.
Barre.* Old name for tidal bore in river Seine. Barrel. Wooden cask holding about 36 gallons.
Barrel of Capstan. Main member of capstan; circular in shape to allow hawsers to be
passed around for heaving; fitted with poppets, in which capstan bars can be inserted; having pawls that take in a pawl ring around its lower edge.
Barricoe. Small cask often used in boats for storing drinking water. Also called 'breaker' or
'bareca'.
Barrier Ice. 'Shelf Ice.'
Barrow's Dip Circle. Instrument used in hydrographic surveying for measuring magnetic
dip and total magnetic force at a place.
Bar Shoe. Suspended fitting, across stem of a ship, to take towing wires of a paravane. Bar Taut. Said of a rope when it is under such tension that it is practically rigid.
Barysphere. Solid mass of iron, and other metals, assumed to exist inside Earth and under
lithosphere.
Base. That solid ingredient in a paint that is responsible for its body.
Base Metals. Those that do not resist action of acids. All metals except those in gold,
silver and platinum groups.
Basin. Artificially enclosed space of water in which ships are placed for loading,
discharging or for repairs.
Basking Shark. Sometimes called 'Sunfish'. Lies motionless on sea surface for fairly
long periods. Is about 36 feet long. Although a member of shark family, is not at all ferocious.
Bateau 35 Bay Ice
Bateau.* Name formerly given to a lightly-constructed boat that was relatively narrow for
its length. Usually broad at middle length but narrowed quickly towards ends.
Bathometer. Instrument for measuring oceanic depths.
Bathyal Zone. Between 100 and 500 fathoms below sea surface. Bed is usually mud;
perhaps containing organic oozes.
Bathybic. Existing in the depths of the sea. Bathymetric. Pertaining to oceanic soundings. Bathymetry. Measurement of deep sea soundings.
Bathysphere. Spherical diving chamber capable of withstanding oceanic pressures at great
depths.
Batil. Two-masted sailing craft of China Seas. About 50 feet long and fitted with outrigger. Batten. Long, narrow, thin strip of wood or metal used for different purposes, particularly
for securing hatch tarpaulins. 2. Length of sawn timber from 2 to 4 inches thick and from 5 to 7 inches wide.
Batten Down. To securely cover a hatch with one or more tarpaulins that are secured by
hatch battens and wedges.
Battened Sails. Sails stiffened with horizontal battens. The battens help to keep a taut sail
when on a wind, and sail may be quickly struck in a squall. Though fairly common in the East they are not often seen in home waters.
Batten Observations. Method of determining amount of roll of a ship by having a sighting
hole in centre line of ship, and a vertical graduated batten in same transverse line but near ship's side. Amount of roll is determined by noting where sea horizon cuts graduated batten.
Battery. A group of guns. All guns on one side of ship. 2. In electricity is two or more cells
connected together, either in parallel or in series.
Battledore. Flat metal fitting put athwartships through cable bitts, and projecting on either
side, to keep turns of cable from riding.
Battleship. Heavily armed and armoured warship in which a certain amount of speed is
yielded to obtain maximum hitting power and protection. Displacement may approximate 50,000 tons.
Bauer Wach Turbine. Auxiliary turbine geared to propeller shaft and driven by exhaust
steam from triple expansion main engines.
Baulk. Beam. Beam-shaped piece of timber. Baulk Yawl. Bale yawl.
Bawley. Sailing boat used in lower reaches of Thames for shrimping or whitebait and sprat
fishing. Usually cutter rigged with loose-footed mainsail.
Bawse.* Old name for a ship's boat. See 'Buss'. Bay. Arm of sea extending into land and
with a seaward width that is greater than amount it goes into the land. 2. Compartment, in hold or store, with entrance not less, in width, than depth of the compartment.