across the masts at right angles, and the latter obliquely.

The square yards are nearly of a cylindrical surface. They taper from the middle, which is called the flings, towards the extremities, which are termed the yard-arms; and the diftance between the flings and the yard-arms on each fide is by the artificers divided into quarters, which are diftinguifhed into the firft, fecond, third quarters, and yard-arms. The middle quarters are formed into eight squares, and each of the end parts is figured like the fruftum of a cone. All the yards of a ship are square except that of the mizen.

The proportions for the length of yards, according to the different classes of ships in the British navy, are as follows:

<table> <tr> <th></th> <th>Yards</th> <th>Guns</th> </tr> <tr> <td>560</td> <td>main-yard, fig. I.</td> <td>100</td> </tr> <tr> <td>559</td> <td>Pl. CCCCLXVIII.</td> <td>90 80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: gun-deck :</td> <td>Note, the figure</td> <td>70</td> </tr> <tr> <td>570</td> <td>represents the</td> <td>60</td> </tr> <tr> <td>375</td> <td>yard and falls of</td> <td>50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>561</td> <td>a ship of 74 guns.</td> <td>44</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: main-yard :</td> <td>880 : fore-yard.</td> <td>100 90 80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>874</td> <td>all the reft.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>

To apply this rule to practice, fuppofe the gun-deck 144 feet. The proportion for this length is, as 1000 is to 575, fo is 144 to 83; which will be the length of the main-yard in feet, and fo of all the reft.

<table> <tr> <th></th> <th>Yards</th> <th>Guns</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: main-yard :</td> <td>840 : mizen-yard</td> <td>100 90 80 60 44</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>847 :</td> <td>70</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>840 :</td> <td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: main-yard :</td> <td>726 : main top-fail-yard</td> <td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>720 :</td> <td>all the reft.</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>719 :</td> <td>70</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: fore-yard :</td> <td>726 : fore top-fail-yard</td> <td>24</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>715 :</td> <td>all the reft.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: main top-fail-yard :</td> <td>main top gallant-yard all the rates.</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000 fore-top-fail yard :</td> <td>666 : fore top gallant-yard</td> <td>70</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>690 :</td> <td>all the reft.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1000: fore-top-fail yard :</td> <td>768 : mizen top-fail-yard</td> <td>70</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>750 :</td> <td>all the reft.</td> </tr> </table>

Crofs-jack and sprit-fail yards equal to the fore top-fail-yard.

Sprit-top-fail-yard equal to the fore top-gallant-yard.

The diameters of yards are in the following proportions to their length.

The main and fore yards five-sevenths of an inch to one yard. The top-fail, crofs-jack, and sprit-fail yards, nine-fourteenths of an inch to one yard. The top-gallant, mizen top-fail, and sprit-fail top-fail yards, eight-thirteenths of an inch to one yard.

The mizen-yard five ninths of an inch to one yard.

All fudding-fail booms and yards half an inch to one yard in length.

The lifts of the main-yard are exhibited in the above figure by gg; the horses and their stirrups by h; the reef-tackles and their pendants by k, l; and the braces and brace-pendents by m, n.

The lateen-yards evidently derive their names from having been pecu liar to the ancient Romans. They are usually composed of several pieces faftened together by wooldings, which also serve as steps whereby the sailors climb to the peak or upper extremity, in order to furl or cast loofe the sail.

The mizen-yard of a ship, and the main-yard of a bilander, are hung obliquely on the mast, almost in the fame manner as the lateen-yard of a xebec, fettee, or polacre.a measure of length ufed in Britain and Spain, consisting of three feet, chiefly to measure cloth, stuffs, &c. YARD-Arm is that half of the yard that is on either side of the mast, when it lies athwart the ship.