FOUL BOTTOM. A ship to which sea-weed, shells, or other encumbrances adhere. Also, the bottom of the sea if rocky, or unsafe from wrecks, and thence a danger of fouling the anchor.
FOUL COAST. One beset with reefs and breakers, offering dangerous impediments to navigation.
FOUL FISH. Applied to salmon in the spawning state, or such as have not for the current year made their way to the sea for purification; shedders.
FOUL GROUND. Synonymous with foul bottom.
FOUL HAWSE. When a vessel is riding with two anchors out, and the cables are crossed round each other outside the stem by the swinging of the ship when moored in a tide-way. (See [Elbow in the Hawse].)
FOUL ROPE. A rope entangled or unfit for immediate use.
FOUL WEATHER. That which reduces a ship to snug-sail.
FOUL-WEATHER BREEDER. A name given to the Gulf Stream from such a volume of warm water occasioning great perturbations in the atmosphere while traversing the Atlantic Ocean.
FOUL-WEATHER FLAG. Denotes danger for boats leaving the shore; watermen's fares increase with these signals.
FOUL WIND. That which prevents a ship from laying her course.