The Sailor's Word-Book Part 213

SEA-LAKE. Synonymous with _lagoon_ (which see).

SEA-LAWS. The codes relating to the sea; as, the laws of Rhodes, Oleron, Wisbuy, &c.

SEA-LAWYER. An idle litigious 'longsh.o.r.er, more given to question orders than to obey them. One of the pests of the navy as well as of the mercantile marine. Also, a name given to the tiger-shark.

SEALED ORDERS. Secret and sealed until the circ.u.mstances arise which authorize their being opened and acted on. Often given to prevent officers from divulging the point to which they are ordered.

SEA-LEGS. Implies the power to walk steadily on a ship's decks, notwithstanding her pitching or rolling.

SEA-LETTER. _See_ Pa.s.sPORT.

SEA-LION. A large seal of the genus _Otaria_, distinguished from the sea-bear, to which it otherwise has a great resemblance, by the s.h.a.ggy mane on its neck and shoulders.

SEA-LOG. That part of the log-book relating to whatever happens while the ship is at sea.

SEA-LUMP. _See_ LUMP.

SEAM. The sewing together of two edges of canvas, which should have about 110 st.i.tches in every yard of length. Also, the identical Anglo-Saxon word for a horse-load of 8 bushels, and much looked to in carrying fresh fish from the coast. Also, the opening between the edges of the planks in the decks and sides of a ship; these are filled with a quant.i.ty of oak.u.m and pitch, to prevent the entrance of water. (_See_ CAULKING.)

SEA-MALL. A name for a sea-gull.

SEAMAN. This is a term seldom bestowed among seafaring men upon their a.s.sociates, unless they are known to be pre-eminent in every duty of the thorough-paced tar; one who never issues a command which he is not competent to execute himself, and is deemed an authority on every matter relating to sea-craft.--The _able seaman_ is the seafaring man who knows all the duties of common seamanship, as to rig, steer, reef, furl, take the lead, and implicitly carry out the orders given, in a seamanlike manner. His rating is A.B.; pay in the navy, 24_s._ to 27_s._ per month.--The _ordinary seaman_ is less qualified; does not take the weather-helm, the earing, or lead; pay about 21_s._ to 23_s._ per month.--The _landsman_ is still less qualified.

SEAMAN'S DISGRACE. A foul anchor.

SEAMANSHIP. The n.o.ble practical art of rigging and working a ship, and performing with effect all her various evolutions at sea.

SEAMAN'S WAGES. A proper object of the admiralty jurisdiction.

SEA-MARK. A point or object distinguishable at sea, as promontories, steeples, rivers, trees, &c., forming important beacons, and noted on charts. By keeping two in a line, channels can be entered with safety, and thus the errors of steerage, effect of tide, &c., obviated. These erections are a branch of the royal prerogative, and by statute 8 Eliz.

cap. 13, the corporation of the Trinity House are empowered to set up any beacons or sea-marks wherever they shall think them necessary; and, if any person shall destroy them, he shall forfeit 100, or, in case of inability to pay, he shall be, _ipso facto_, outlawed.

SEAMEN-GUNNERS. Men who have been trained in a gunnery ship, and thereby become qualified to instruct others in that duty.

SEA-MEW. A sea-gull.

SEA-MOUSE. The _Aphrodita aculeata_, a marine annelid, remarkable for the brilliant iridescence of the long silky hairs with which its sides are covered.

SEA-NETTLE. An immemorial name of several zoophytes and marine creatures of the cla.s.s _Acalephae_, which have the power of stinging, particularly the _Medusae_.

SEA-OWL. A name of the lump-fish, _Cyclopterus lumpus_.

SEA-PAY. That due for actual service in a duly-commissioned ship.

SEA-PERIL. Synonymous with _sea-risk_.

SEA-PIE. The pied oyster-catcher, _Haematopus ostralegus_. Also, a favourite sea-dish in rough weather, consisting of an olla of fish, meat, and vegetables, in layers between crusts, the number of which denominate it a two or three decker.

SEA-PINCUSHION. The name among northern fishermen for a kind of star-fish of the genus _Goniaster_.

SEA-POACHER. A name of the pogge, _Cottus cataphractus_.

SEA-PORCUPINE. Several fish of the genera _Diodon_ and _Tetraodon_, beset with sharp spines, which they can erect by inflating themselves with air.

SEA-PORK. The flesh of young whales in the western isles of Scotland; the whale-beef of the Bermudas, &c. It is also called sea-beef.

SEA-PORT. A haven near the sea, not situated up a river.

SEA-PURSE. _See_ MERMAID'S PURSE.

SEA-QUADRANT. The old name of Jacob's cross-staff.

SEA-QUAKE. The tremulous motion and shock of an earthquake felt through the waves.

SEA-RATE. The going of a chronometer as established on board, instead of that supplied from the sh.o.r.e. This may be done by lunars. From motion and other causes their rates after embarkation are frequently useless, and rates for their new ever-changing position are indispensable. This rate is sometimes _loosely_ deduced between two ports; but as the meridian distances are never satisfactorily known, even as to the spots of observation, they cannot be relied on but as comparative.

SEARCH. If the act of submitting to search is to subject neutral vessels to confiscation by the enemy, the parties must look to that enemy whose the injustice is for redress, but they are not to shelter themselves by committing a fraud upon the undoubted rights of the other country.

SEARCH, RIGHT OF. _See_ VISITATION.

SEARCHER. A custom-house officer employed in taking an account of goods to be exported. Also, _see_ GUN-SEARCHER.

SEA-REACH. The straight course or reach of a winding river which stretches out to sea-ward.

SEA-RISK. Liability to losses by _perils of the sea_ (which see).

SEA-ROKE. A cold fog or mist which suddenly approaches from the sea, and rapidly spreads over the vicinity of our eastern sh.o.r.es, to a distance of 8 or 10 miles inland.

SEA-ROOM. Implies a sufficient distance from land, rocks, or shoals wherein a ship may drive or scud without danger.

SEA-ROVERS. Pirates and robbers at sea.

SEA-SERGEANTS. A society of gentlemen, belonging to the four maritime counties of South Wales, holding their anniversaries at sea-port towns, or one within the reach of tidal influence. It was a secret a.s.sociation of early date, revived in 1726, and dissolved about 1765.

SEA-SLATER. The _Ligia oceanica_, a small crustacean.

SEA-SLEECH. _See_ SLEECH.

SEA-SLEEVE. A name of the flosk or squid, _Loligo vulgaris_.

SEA-SLUG. The _Holothuria_. An animal of the cla.s.s _Echinodermata_, with elongated body, and flexible outer covering.

SEASONED TIMBER. Such as has been cut down, squared, and stocked for one season at least.

SEASONING. The keeping a vessel standing a certain time after she is completely framed, and dubbed out for planking. A great prince of this maritime country in pa.s.sing a dockyard, inquired what those _basket-ships_ were for!

SEA-SPOUT. The jetting of sea-water over the adjacent lands, when forced through a perforation in a rocky sh.o.r.e; both its egress and ingress are attended with a rumbling noise, and the spray is often very injurious to the surrounding vegetation.