Case-shot, fig. 14. is formed by putting a great quantity of musket-bullets into a cylindrical tin-box called a canister. They are principally used by the French to scour the decks of the enemy.
| Diameter of Iron Shot used in the sea-service, according to their weight. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wt. | Diamet. | |
| lb. | Inch. | Parts. |
| 1½ | 2 | 20 |
| 3 | 2 | 77 |
| 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | 3 | 49 |
| 9 | 4 | 00 |
| 12 | 4 | 40 |
| 18 | 5 | 4 |
| 24 | 5 | 50 |
| 32 | 6 | 60 |
| 42 | 6 | 68 |
Fire-arrows are described in the notes under the article Engagement, and Langrage under that word.
Star-shot consists of four pieces of iron, whose bases, when separate, form the quadrant of a circle; so that the whole being joined, forms a cylinder equal to the shot of the cannon. Each of those pieces is furnished with an iron bar, the extremity of which is attached to a sort of link, as keys are strung upon a ring. Being discharged from the gun, the four branches or arms extend every way from the link in the center. These also are chiefly intended to destroy the sails or rigging, but their flight and execution is very precarious at any tolerable distance.
SHROUDS, haubans, (scrud, Sax.) a range of large ropes extended from the mast-heads to the right and left side of the ship, to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail, &c.
The shrouds are always divided into pairs or couples: that is to say, one piece of rope is doubled, fig. 7. plate [IX]. and the two parts fastened together at a small distance from the middle a, so as to leave a sort of noose or collars a b to fix upon the mast-head. This collar being fixed in its place, viz. close down upon the tressel-trees k fig. 2. plate [VI]. a pair of shrouds depend from it, whose lower ends ought to reach down to the deck. The lower ends of these shrouds are set up or extended to the channel I. fig. 2. plate [VI]. on the outside of the ship, by the application of mechanical powers, as explained in the articles dead-eye and laniard.
The shrouds as well as the sails are denominated from the masts to which they belong. Thus they are the main, fore, and mizen shrouds, the main top-mast, fore top-mast, or mizen top-mast shrouds, and the main top-gallant, fore top-gallant, or mizen top-gallant shrouds.
The number of shrouds by which a mast is sustained, as well as the size of rope of which they are formed, is always in proportion to the size of the mast, and the weight of sail it is intended to carry.
The two foremost shrouds on the starboard and larboard side of the ship are always fitted first upon the mast-head; and then the second on the starboard and the second on the larboard, and so on till the whole number is fixed. The intention of this arrangement is to brace the yards with greater facility when the sails are close-hauled, which could not be performed without great difficulty if the foremost shrouds were last fitted on the mast-head, because the angle which they would make with the mast would then be greatly increased. See also Swifter.