ast of Sicily; and the Archipelago is daily at work.

ISLAND HARBOUR. That which is protected from the violence of the sea by
one or more islands or islets screening its mouth.

ISLAND OF ICE. A name given to a great quantity of ice collected into
one solid mass and floating upon the sea; they are often met with on the
coasts of Spitzbergen, to the great danger of the shipping employed in
the Greenland fishery.

ISLE. A colloquial abbreviation of _island_.

ISLE OF WIGHT PARSON. A cormorant.

ISLET, OR ISLOT. Smaller than an island, yet larger than a key; an
insular spot about a couple of miles in circuit.

ISOSCELES. A triangle with only two of its sides equal.

ISSUE. The act of dispensing slops, tobacco, beds, &c., to the ship's
company; a distribution.

ISSUE-BOOK. That which contains the record of issues to the crew, and
the charges made against them.

ISTHMUS. A narrow neck of land which joins a peninsula to its continent,
or two islands together, or two peninsulas, without reference to size.
The Isthmus of Suez alone prevents Africa from being an island, as that
of Darien connects the two Americas.

IURRAM. A Gaelic word signifying a boat-song, intended to regulate the
strokes of the oars. Also, a song sung during any kind of work.

IVIGAR. A name in our northern isles for the sea-urchin, _Echinus
marinus_.

IVORY GULL, OR SNOW-BIRD. The _Larus eburneus_ of Arctic seas. It has a
yellowish beak, jet black legs, and plumage of a dazzling white.

J.

JAB, TO. To pierce fish by prodding.

JABART. A northern term for a fish out of season.

JABB. A peculiar net used for catching the fry of the coal-fish.

JACK. In the British navy the jack is a small _union_ flag, formed by
the intersection of St. George's and St. Andrew's crosses (which see),
usually displayed from a staff erected on the outer end of a ship's
bowsprit. In merchant ships the union is bordered with white or red.
(_See_ UNION-JACK.) Also, a common term for the jack or cross-trees.
Also, a young male pike, _Esox lucius_, under a foot in length. Also, a
drinking vessel of half-pint contents. (_See_ BLACK-JACK.)--_Jack_, or
_Jack Tar_, a familiar term for a sailor. A fore-mast man and an able
seaman. It was an early term for short coats, jackets, and a sort of
coat-of-mail or defensive lorica, or upper garment.

JACK ADAMS. A stubborn fool.

JACK AFLOAT. A sailor. Euripides used almost the same term in _floater_,
for a seaman