FLAG is more particularly used at sea; for the colours, ancients, standards, &c. borne on the top of the masts of vessels, to notify the person who commands the ship, of what nation it is, and whether it be equipped for war or trade, see Plate LXXXI.
The admiral in chief carries his flag on the main top, the vice-admiral on the fore-top, and the rear-admiral on the mizzen-top.
When a council of war is to be held at sea, if it be on board the admiral, they hang a flag in the main shrouds; if in the vice-admiral, in the fore-shrouds; and if in the rear-admiral, in the mizzen shrouds.
Besides the national flag, merchant-ships frequently bear lesser flags on the mizzen-mast, with the arms of the city where the master ordinarily resides; and on the fore-mast, with the arms of the place where the person who freightes them lives.