in maritime affairs, a small sea vessel, 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 size; the master commands in chief, and without his express orders the nets cannot be cast or 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 generally engage for a whole voyage in the lump. The provisions which they take on board the busses, consist commonly in biscuit, oatmeal, and dried or salt fish: the crew being content for the rest with what fresh fish they catch. See Fisheries.