FRESHES, a local term signifying annual inundations, from the river being scollen by the melted snows and other fresh waters from the uplands, as is the Nile, &c. from periodical or tropical rains. As a sailor's term, it is opposed to marine or salt water floodings, tides, &c. The word is of common use in America, where the inundations so called are of great service. They bring down the soil to the intervals below, and form a fine mould, producing corn, grain, and herbage, in the most luxuriant plenty. They also afford another benefit, in regard to many rivers in America, viz. in equalizing the surface of the stream (where rapid falls, or cascades, obstruct the navigation), so that rafts of timber and other goods produce are then floated down to the sea ports in great quantities.