th a bamboo mast and yard, and a mat or cotton-cloth sail,
all three parts of which are connected; and when the tack and sheet of
the sail are let go, it all falls fore and aft alongside, and being
light, is easily managed. In carrying a press of sail, they are trimmed
by the balance-lever, by going out on the poles so as to keep the log
on the surface of the water, and not impede its velocity, which, in a
strong wind, is very great.

CATANADROMI. Migratory fishes, which have their stated times of going
from fresh-water to salt and returning, as the salmon, &c.

CATAPULT. A military engine used by the ancients for throwing stones,
spears, &c.

CATARACT. The sudden fall of a large body of water from a higher to a
lower level, and rather in a single sheet than by successive leaps, as
in a cascade.

CATASCOPIA. Small vessels anciently used for reconnoitring and carrying
despatches.

CAT-BEAM. This, called also the beak-head beam, is the broadest beam in
the ship, and is generally made of two beams tabled and bolted together.

CAT-BLOCK. A two or three fold block, with an iron strop and large hook
to it, which is employed to cat or draw the anchor up to the cat-head,
which is also fitted with three great sheaves to correspond.

CATCH. A term used among fishermen to denote a quantity of fish taken at
one time.

CATCH A CRAB. In rowing, when an oar gets so far beneath the surface of
the water, that the rower cannot recover it in time to prevent his being
knocked backwards.

CATCH A TURN THERE. Belay quickly.

CATCH-FAKE. An unseemly doubling in a badly coiled rope.

CATERER. A purveyor and provider of provisions: now used for the person
who takes charge of and regulates the economy of a mess. (_See_ ACATER.)

CAT-FALL. The rope rove for the cat-purchase, by which the anchor is
raised to the cat-head or catted.

CAT-FISH. A name for the sea-wolf (_Anarrhicas lupus_).

CAT-GUT. A term applied to the sea-laces or _Fucus filum_. (_See_
SEA-CATGUT.)

CAT-HARPINGS, OR CATHARPIN LEGS. Ropes under the tops at the lower end
of the futtock-shrouds, serving to brace in the shrouds tighter, and
affording room to brace the yards more obliquely when the ship is
close-hauled. They keep the shrouds taut for the better ease and safety
of the mast.

CAT-HEAD. The cat-head passes through the bow-bulwark obliquely forward
on a radial line from the fore-mast, rests on the timbers even with the
water-way, passes through the de