"Wife, pluck fro thy seed hemp, the fimble hemp clean,
This looketh more yellow, the other more green;
Use this one for thy spinning, leave Michael the t'other,
For shoe-thread and halter, for rope and such other."—Tusser.
FIN [Anglo-Saxon, Finn]. A native of Finland; those are Fins who live by fishing. We use the whole for a part, and thus lose the clue which the Fin affords of a race of fishermen.
FIN-BACK. See [Finner].
FIND, To. To provide with or furnish.
FINDING. The verdict of a court-martial.
FINDON HADDOCK. The Finnan Haddie, a species of haddock cured by smoke-drying at Montrose and Aberdeen.
FINE. A term of comparison, as fine ship, &c., or [lean] (which see). Also, see [Fyen].
FINE BREEZES. Said of the wind when the flying-kites may be carried, but requiring a sharp look-out.
FINISHINGS. The carved ornaments of the quarter-galleries: upper and lower, as above or below the stools.
FINNER. Whales of the genus Balænoptera are so termed, being distinguished from the right whales by the possession of a small triangular adipose dorsal fin. There are several species, some of which grow to a greater length than any other animals of the order, viz. 80 or perhaps 90 feet. They are very active and difficult to harpoon, yield comparatively little oil, and their baleen, or "whalebone," is almost worthless; consequently, they suffer much less than the right whales from the persecutions of the whalers. The finner, or great black fish, is feared by whalers in general. It is vicious, and can only be attacked by large boats in shallow water, as at the Bermudas, where the whale-boats are about 50 or 60 feet long, and 12 feet beam. The fish yields one barrel of oil for every foot in length beyond thirty. (See [Razor-back] and [Rorqual].)