[Illustration: SHORTENING SAIL IN A STORM.]
[Illustration: PREPARING TO MAKE SAIL.]
[Illustration: LOOSED SAILS.]
Ships are principally distinguished as those called merchantmen, which
belong to individuals or companies, and are engaged in commerce; and
men-of-war, or the national ships, built for the purposes of war. The
latter receive their designation from the number of their decks, or of
the guns which they carry. The largest are termed ships of the line,
from their forming the line of battle when acting together in fleets;
and are divided into first-rates, second-rates, third-rates, &c.
First-rates include all those carrying 100 guns and upwards, with a
company of 850 men and upwards; second-rates mount 90 to 100 guns, and
so on, down to the sixth-rates; but some ships of less than 44 guns are
termed frigates.
[Illustration: TOP-GALLANT-SAILS HOME.]
[Illustration: SAIL ON THE STARBOARD TACK.]
[Illustration: REEFING TOPSAILS.]
[Illustration: DOUBLE-REEFED TOPSAILS.]
There are three principal masts in a complete ship: the first is the
main-mast, which stands in the centre of the ship; at a considerable
distance forward is the fore-mast; and at a less distance behind, the
mizen-mast.
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