Publications: "Angling in Salt Water" (1887), Days in Thule with Rod, Gun, and Camera," "Sea-Fishing" (Badminton), "Wild Sports in Ireland" (1897), " Book on the All-Round Angler "' (1900).

Bickerton, Sir Richard Hussey (1759-1832). English admiral. In 1781, when captain of the Invincible, was present at the action off Martinique, and under Lord Keith took part in the Egyptian operations, and was made Commander-in-Chief at Alexandria after the capture of that town, 1801. He was second-in-command of the Mediterranean to Lord Nelson, 1804; promoted to the rank of admiral, 1810, and Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, 1812.

Bickford, Vice-Admiral Andrew Kennedy (b. India). Entered Navy, 1858; served in China, in Barossa, at the action of Simonoseki; in charge of rocket-boat Research on the coast of Ireland during Fenian riots, 1866-68; senior and gunnery lieutenant of Amethyst during actions with Peruvian rebel ironclad Huascar; commander of Thalia, employed in transport service during Egyptian war, 1882 (Egyptian medal, Khedive's Bronze Star, Medjidie, 3rd Class); A.D.C. to the Queen, 1896; superintendent Sheerness dockyards, 1897; Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station, 1900.

Bidarka. See Kayak.

Bidder, George Parker (1806-78). English engineer. Educated Edinburgh University; prizeman in higher mathematics, 1872. Assisted Stephenson in the construction of the London and Birmingham railway, and constructed several lines in England and abroad-e.g., Denmark, Norway, and India. He planned the Victoria Docks, London, invented the railway swing bridge, and was one of the founders of the first electrical telegraph company.

Biddle. U.S. torpedo-boat (1900). Displacement, 167 tons; guns, 3 1-pdr.; torpedo tubes, 3 18-in.; speed, 28 kts.

B.I.E. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Biervliet, Holland.

Biggart, Andrew Stephenson (b. Ayrshire, August 25, 1857). Marine engineer. Served apprenticeship to marine engineering, and entered the service of Sir William Arrol and Co., Glasgow, as principal assistant; was appointed engineer and manager under Sir William Arrol for carrying out the construction of the Forth Bridge, and on completion of this work in 1890 was made partner in the firm; since then has taken the leading part in carrying out various contracts, including the steel work of the Tower Bridge; is managing director of Sir William Arrol and Co., Ltd., and head, Wrightson and Co., Ltd.; designed the three famous bridges over the Nile at Cairo; past-president of the Glasgow University Engineering Society; governor of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College; member of council of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders.

Publications: Has contributed many scientific and technical papers to the British Association, Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland.

Bight. The loop of a rope when it is folded in opposition to the end.

Bilge. That part of a ship where the floors and second futtocks unite, and upon which the ship would rest if laid on the ground.

Bilge-keel. An additional short keel placed outside the bilge of boats to protect the skin in grounding, and also, especially abroad, to enable them to hold a better wind when sailing and heeling over.

Bilgeways. The foundations of the cradle supporting a ship upon the sliding-ways during building and launching. The bilgeways are about fivesixths the length of the ship, and are about two ft. 6 in. square.

Bill. See Anchor.

Billander. Formerly applied to small merchant vessels with two masts, distinguishable by the fact that their mainsail is bent to the whole length of her yard hanging fore and aft. Few vessels are now rigged in this manner.

Bill board. Doubling under the fore-channel to the waterline as a protection from the bill of the anchor.

Bill of exchange, A, is an instrument in writing whereby a debtor assigns to his creditor a debt due to himself from a third party. These instruments came into use among merchants early in the fourteenth century, notwithstanding the rule of

BILL

Common Law that "choses in action" or debts were not assignable. They were recognised for centuries in the Courts of Staple and Admiralty, which administered the law merchant. Their validity in courts of law generally was not established until the days of Lord Mansfield. The Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, codifies the law now governing them.

The person making the bill is called the drawer; the person to whom it is addressed the drawee, or, after accepting it, the acceptor; the person in whose favour it is drawn is the payee, or, if he endorse the bill to another, the endorser; while the person to whom the bill is assigned or negotiated is the endorsee or holder.

No notice of assignment is necessary (as in equity) to complete the holder's title. A bill drawn (a) to order, or (b) to hearer, will (a) when indorsed or (b) when handed over vest a right of action upon the bill in any person taking bona fide and for value, and without notice of any flaw in the title of the person from whom he took it, consideration for the bill being always presumed until the contrary appear.

The essentials of a bill of exchange are: (1) it must be in writing; (2) the order to pay must be unconditional-i.e., not payable on a contingency or out of a specified fund; (3) payment must be on demand or at a fixed or ascertainable future time; (4) payment must be for a sum certain in money; (5) the drawee must be indicated with reasonable certainty; (6) if not payable to bearer the bill must clearly indicate the payee.

1 Where the drawer and drawee are the same person, the holder of the instrument may treat it either as a bill or promissory note.

Bill of health, A, which is included in the list of a ship's documents, is a certificate signed by consuls or other authorities and delivered to the shipmaster, stating the sanitary condition and state of health of the port at the time of her leaving. A clean " bill of health means that at the time of the ship's departure no infectious disease was known to exist. A " suspected or 'tainted bill of health is one that imports that there were rumours of the existence of some infectious disease, though up to the time of certifying it had not appeared.

A "foul bill of health means that when the vessel left the port was infected.

Bill of lading, A, is a receipt for goods and an undertaking to carry safely and deliver them in good condition at their port of destination, with the exception of loss or damage caused by the act of God, king's enemies, fire, or any danger or accident of seas, rivers, and navigation. Upon delivery of goods on board the shipper receives a "mate's receipt," which contains the terms upon which the goods are to be carried. The master or ship's agent afterwards signs a bill of lading, and

་་

delivers it to the holder of the receipt. Three bills are made out. One is sent to the consignee, a second goes by the ship, and the third is retained by the shipper.

A clean bill of lading is one in which there is nothing to qualify the admission on the part of the shipowner that so many packages are shipped in good order and well-conditioned. A through bill of lading is one made for the carriage of goods from one place to another by several shipowners or railway companies.

A bill of lading is not a negotiable instrument, and the transferee has no better title to the goods therein mentioned than the transferor had, but the property in goods will pass to the transferee by indorsement and delivery of a bill, subject to the right of stoppage in transitu (q.v.). Indorsement of a bill of lading by the buyer to a bona fide purchaser for value will defeat this right of stoppage in transitu.

Refer to Affreightment, Damage.

Bill of Lading Clause. See Clauses.

Bill of store is a licence granted by the Customs house authorities to a merchant, by which he is entitled to reimport within five years unsold goods free of duty.

Billyboy. A large one-masted vessel principally used on the east coast.

Birkbeck, Sir Edward, cr. 1886 (b. October 11, 1838). Chairman of Royal National Lifeboat Institution; originator and chairman of the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883; M.P., North Norfolk, 1879-85; East Norfolk, 1885-92.

Birkenhead. Troopship, iron paddle-wheeled, and of 556 Hp. On January 7, 1852, this vessel sailed from Queenstown for the Cape, having on board detachments of the 12th Lancers, 2nd, 6th, 12th, 43rd, 45th, and 60th Rifles, 73rd, 74th, and 91st regiments. On February 26, 1852, she struck upon a pointed pinnacle rock off Simon's Bay, South Africa, and of 638 persons only 184 were saved by the boats; 454 of the crew and soldiers perished.

Birmingham. U.S. scout (1904).

Length 424ft. Beam 45ft. Draught 18ft.
Displacement 4,000 tons. Complement 384.
Armour.

Guns. 6--14 pdr.

Twin screw.

5 in. Belt amidships. Torpedo Tubes (21 in.).

mum 1,000 tons.

2 Submerged.

Hp. 16,000 24 kts. Coal maxi

Biscoe, John, R.N. See Antarctic Exploration.

Bishop Rock Lighthouse, situated on the westernmost landfall rock of the Scilly Isles, fully exposed to the Atlantic, occupies perhaps a more exposed

BISTRITZA

situation than any other in the world. It gives a two-flash light per minute, the duration of each flash being four seconds, 170, 500 candle power, using the Douglas 8-wick burner, and oil as illuminant. It was designed by the late Mr. James Walker, and carried out by Mr. J. N. Douglas.

Bistritza. Roumanian gun-boat, 100 tons. Of no fighting value.

Bite. The anchor is said to bite when it holds fast in the ground.

Bittern. British torpedo-boat destroyer. (Barrow, 1897.) Length, 210 ft.; beam, 21 ft.; draught, 5 ft.; displacement, 300 tons; complement, 60; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr., 2 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 6,000=30 kts. ; coal, 80 tons.

Bitts. Cross timbers or iron to secure the cables when the ship rides at anchor.

B.I.W. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Broek in Waterland, Holland. Bize. A cold, piercing wind of Languedoc. Bjerke. Russian torpedo-boat. (Putiloff, 1890.) Length 136 ft.; beam, 13 ft.; draught, 7 ft.; displacement, 81 tons; armament, 2 tubes; Hp., 1,250 21 kts.; coal, 17 tons.

Bjorn. Swedish armoured gun-boat, 460 tons. Of no fighting value.

B.K. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Berwick-on-Tweed, England.

Bk. Bank. Abbreviation adopted on the charts issued by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty.

B/L. Bill of Lading.

B.L. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Blankenham, Holland.

77

B.L. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Bristol, England.

Black Book of Admiralty. The Black Book of Admiralty, said to have been partly compiled during the reign of Edward III., is a collection of "ancient statutes of the Admiralty to be observed both upon the ports and havens, the high seas, and beyond the seas ... "having been from time to time kept in the registry of the Court for the use of the Judges of the Admiralty." It is now preserved at the Royal Courts of Justice. Refer to Laws of Oleron."

Black, John C. (b. Glasgow, March 21, 1864). Educated Blair Lodge, and on leaving school was articled to Messrs. Russell and Aitken, Falkirk, solicitors, and at the same time studied Naval Architecture at the Technical College, Glasgow. Finding that the law was not to his liking, his father apprenticed him to Messrs. Blackadder and Co., and finally to Messrs. Shanks and Bell, of Yoker. After serving an apprenticeship he took up

BLACK

active sea life, and in 1895 was appointed chief officer of the Borghese, and was the means of saving the lives of so many men of the steamer Charlewood, which was in collision off the Longship Light with the Borghese. He afterwards commanded this steamer, and in 1900 the Planet Mars; 1901, the Westminster, which was used by the American Government in the Spanish-American war to carry coals for Admiral Dewey's fleet. In 1903 he retired from the sea and became Marine Superintendent to the Monarch Steamship Co. He is President of the Shipmasters' and Officers' Association, and editor of the "Scottish Shipmaster," and is the head of the movement which has for its object the establishment of a Nautical College in Glasgow.

Blackburn, C. J. (b. November 21, 1852). Marine engineer. Served his apprenticeship at Messrs. Laird Brothers, Birkenhead; was appointed Assistant Superintendent Engineer to the Guion Line, and held the appointment for seventeen years, until the company was wound up in 1895; appointed Superintendent Engineer to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co., and was closely connected with the building of the paddle steamer Empress Queen, and the turbine steamer Viking, the two fastest steamers of their class afloat.

Blackpool Passenger Steamboat Co., Ltd., with their head offices at Blackpool, maintain daily sailings from Blackpool to Douglas (Isle of Man), Llandudno, Southport, Liverpool, Manchester, Morecambe, and Fleetwood.

BLACK

Black Sea, or Euxine, from the old Roman name Pontus Euxinus, is a large inland sea in the southeast of Europe, bounded on the north and east by Russia, on the south by Asia Minor, and the west by Turkey, Bulgaria, and Roumania. It is entered from the Mediterranean through the channel of the Dardanelles or Hellespontus, the Sea of Marmora or Propontis, and the channel of Constantinople or Thractian Bosphorus; and it is connected with the Sea of Azoff by a strait between the Crimea and the Isle of Taman, known as the Strait of Kertch or Yenikale. The basin of the Black Sea is of an irregular ovate form with a nearly flat bottom; its greatest length from east to west is 720 miles; its greatest breadth is in its western portion, between the estuary of the Dnieper on the north and the mouth of the Sakaria on the south, where it is 380 miles. Its total area, including the Sea of Azoff, is about 172,500 square miles. In the centre of the basin the maximum depth is about 1,227 fathoms. The uniform mean temperature of the sea is about 48 20, but during the summer the surface water rises in temperature from 54° F. in May, to 78° in August. The winds are variable except during the summer, when they generally blow from the north-east, while at other seasons southerly or south-westerly winds often prevail. The area is very subject to fogs, and remarkable for the rapidity with which violent storms not unfrequently rise, often to subside again with like rapidity. This sea is practically destitute of islands and seldom freezes, even along the shore. The salinity of the Black Sea water varies at different periods of the year, and is about half the salinity of ordinary sea water.

See Sir John Murray on the "Deposits of the Black Sea" (1900).

Black Sea Yacht Club. Established 1875. Commodore, Angelo Anatra; Vice-Commodore, Baron Wladimir Mahs; Rear-Commodore, N. Grodschi; Treasurer, Angelo Anatra; Honorary Secretary, S. I. Doojan, Odessa. Entrance fee, 100 roubles; annual subscription, 30 roubles.

Blackstrake. The range of plank immediately above the wales in a ship's side.

Blackthorn Winter. The cold weather, accompanied by keen north-east winds, which sometimes occurs about the second week in April, when the blackthorn is in bloom.

Blackwall Hitch. See Knots.

Blackwater. British torpedo-boat destroyer. (Laird, 1903.) Length, 225 ft.; beam, 23 ft.; draught, 10 ft.; displacement, 550 tons; complement, 70; armament, 1 12-pdr., 5 6-pdr., 2 tubes; twin screw; Hp., 7,000=25 kts.; coal, 130 tons.

Blackwater Sailing Club. Commodore, J. H. T. Tudsbery; Vice-Commodore, Walter H. Gray;

Rear-Commodore, E. Copland; Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, T. Laurance Eve, Friary, Maldon, Essex; Club House, Heybridge Basin, Essex. Entrance fee, 10s.; annual subscription, 10s.

Blackwood, Vice-Admiral Hon. Sir Henry (17701832). As lieutenant of the Invincible took part in Howe's battle of June 1, 1794, and in the following year in Bridport's action he commanded the Migara. In 1780 was attached to the squadron blockading Malta, where he distinguished himself in the Penelope by attacking the Guillame Tell, which he captured. At the battle of Trafalgar he rendered good service in the Euryalus, and brought home the despatches announcing the victory. In 1827 he was appointed Commander-inChief at the Nore.

Blade. A flat part of an oar which is plunged into the water in rowing.

Blake. British 1st class cruiser. (Chatham, 1899.)

Length 375ft. Beam 65ft. Maximum draught 27ft. Displacement 9,150 tons. Complement 590.

Blake, Robert

(1598-1657). British admiral (b. Bridgewater). Was appointed commander of the British Fleet, 1649, and in the following year destroyed most of Prince Rupert's squadron at Malaga. In 1651 he captured the Scilly Isles and Jersey. Appointed to command the Fleet, assisted by Rear-Admiral Bourne, against the Dutch in 1654; he defeated van Tromp in the Downs, and De Witt and De Ruyter off the mouth of the Thames. He sustained a reverse, however, at the hands of van Tromp off Dungeness. In 1653, after an indecisive action with van Tromp off Portsmouth, he met the same antagonist off the Dutch coast and finally routed him. Van Tromp was killed in this action. In 1656, when war broke out with Spain, he took charge of the blockading squadron off Cadiz, sailing from there to Teneriffe, where, finding a naval force at Santa Cruz, he attacked and defeated them. He died August 17, 1657, on board his flagship the George, within sight of Plymouth Sound.

See Hepworth Dickson's "Robert Blake " (1852); "A Life," by Dr. Samuel Johnson

BLAKELY

(1777); D. Hannay's "Life of Blake" (1886); "The First Dutch War." (Navy Records Society, 1899-1900.)

Blakely. U.S. torpedo-boat (1900). Displacement, 165 tons; guns, 3 1-pdr.; torpedo tubes, 3 18-in.; maximum speed, 26 kts.

Blanche. Frigate. On March 4, 1807, this vessel was lost on the French coast, when 45 men perished.

Blanche Nef. On November 25, 1120, this vessel was wrecked off Barfleur. The children of Henry I. and a large number of attendants were on board; 363 persons perished.

Twin screw. Hp. 11,000 21.79 kts.; forced, 14,000=22'78 kts. Coal maximum 900 tons.

Bland Line, was founded by Messrs. M. H. Bland and Co., Ltd., Gibraltar, and maintains a regular steam service between Gibraltar and Tangiers, carrying the mail; and frequent sailings to and from Tetuan, Melilla, Larache, Rabat, and other Morocco ports. They also undertake salvage work, and maintain the ocean tug and salvage steamer Rescue, together with an efficient staff of divers, mechanics, etc. They were instrumental in flo ting H.M.S. Assistance (q.v.) from her perilous position on the shores of Tetuan Bay in November, 1905.

Guns. 2-9'2 in. 10-6 in. 16--3 pdr.

2-9 pdr. Boat.

7 Machine.

Twin

B.L.O.

Armour.

"Steel and Compound."

6 in. Deck.

12 in. Conning tower.

Torpedo Tubes (14 in.).

2 Submerged.

2 Above water.

screw. Hp. natural 13,000=18'5 kts., forced 20,000 = 22 kts. Coal maximum 1,800 tons. This ship-name was first introduced into the Navy in 1709, and commemorates the victory of the Duke of Marlborough over the French in 1704. It is associated with Howe's relief of Gibraltar, 1782; Hotham's action at Genoa, 1795; the battle off Cape St. Vincent, 1797; and the Baltic, 1854.

Blervie Castle. On December 25, 1859, this vessel sailed from London Docks for Adelaide. She was lost in the Channel; 57 persons were drowned.

Bligh, William (1754-1817). British admiral (b. Cornwall). Saw service under Captain Cook, 1772-74; took part in the action off the Dogger Bank, 1781; and Howe's relief of Gibraltar, 1782. In 1788 commanded the Bounty (q.v.), and after his adventures on that voyage was promoted captain; commanded the Warrior, 1794, off Ushant; the Director, 1797, at Camperdown; and the Glatten, 1801, at Copenhagen. Was a brave and first-rate seaman, but one of the worst of tyrants in days when tyrannical naval commanders were too numerous. Refer to Naval Mutinies.

Blink. Norwegian torpedo-boat. (Christiania, 1903.) Length, 115 ft.; beam, 14 ft.; draught, 6 ft.; displacement, 65 tons; armament, 2 1'4 in., 2 tubes; Hp., 650=19 kts.

Blitz. German 3rd class cruiser. (Kiel, 1882.) Displacement, 1,390 tons; Hp. 2,700=15'5 kts. Of no fighting value.

Blitz. Austro-Hungarian torpedo gun-boat. (Schichau, 1888.) Practically of fighting value.

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Blixt. Swedish torpedo-boat. (Karlskrona, 1898.) Length 128 ft.; beam, 15 ft.; draught, 7 ft. ; displacement, 92 tons; complement, 18; armament, 2 19-in. (q.f.), 2 tubes; Hp., 1,250=23 kts.; coal, 17 tons.

Blizzard. A violent and bitterly cold wind accompanied with blinding snow.

B.L.K. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Blokhus, Holland.

blk. Black. Abbreviation adopted on the charts issued by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, denoting the quality of the ocean's bottom.

B.L.O. Distinguishing letters on sea fishing boats registered at Blokzijl, Holland.