in maritime affairs, a small sea-veffel, used by us and the Dutch in the herring-fishery, commonly from 48 to 60 tons burden, and sometimes more: a buss has two small sheds or cabins, one at the prow, and the other at the stern; that at the prow serves for a kitchen. Every buss has a master, an assistant, a mate, and seamen in proportion to the vessel's bigness; the master commands in chief, and without his express orders the nets cannot be cast nor taken up; the assistant has the command after him; and the mate next, whose business is to see the seamen manage their rigging in a proper manner, to mind those who draw in their nets, and those who kill, gut, and cure the herrings, as they are taken out of the sea: the seamen do generally engage for a whole voyage in the lump. The pro- vision which they take on board the buttes, consist commonly in biscuit, oat-meal, and dried or salt fish; the crew being content for the rest with what fresh fish they catch. See Fisheries.