_Ship's age_, one of
the stipulations of contracts at Lloyd's.--_Age of the moon_, is the
interval of time or number of days elapsed since the previous
conjunction or new moon.

AGENCY. Payment _pro opera et labore_, fixed by the prize act at five
per cent. as a fair average, but it gives nothing where the property is
restored; in such cases it is usual for the agent to charge a gross sum.

AGENCY, NAVAL. A useful class of persons, who transact the monetary
affairs of officers, and frequently help them to the top branches of the
profession. They are paid for their services by a percentage of 2-1/2.

AGENT. In physics, expresses that by which a thing is done or
effected.--_Navy agent_ is a deputy employed to pass accounts, transact
business, and receive pay or other monies, in behoof of the officers and
crew, and to apply the proceeds as directed by them.--_Agent victuallers_,
officers appointed to the charge of provisions at our foreign ports and
stations, to contract for, buy, and regulate, under the authority of the
commissioners of the navy. (_See_ NEGLIGENCE.)--_Prize agent_, one
appointed for the sale of prizes, and nominated in equal numbers by the
commander, the officers, and the ship's company.

AGENTS TO LLOYD'S. _See_ LLOYD'S AGENTS.

AGGRESSION. The first act of injury in provoking warfare.

AGIO. An Italian word, applied to denote the profit arising from
discounting bills; also the difference between the value of bank-stock
and currency.

AGISTMENT. An embankment against the sea or rivers, or one thrown up to
fence out a stream.

AGON. A Chinese kind of metal cymbal. (_See_ GONG.) It is singular that
Gower, _circa_ 1395, using this old word for _gone_, thus metallicizes--

"Of brasse, of silver, and of golde,
The world is passed, and _agon_."

AGONIST. A champion; prize-fighter.

AGREEMENT. Except vessels of less than eighty tons register, the master
of a ship must enter into an agreement with every seaman whom he carries
from any port in Great Britain as one of his crew; and that agreement
must be in the form sanctioned by the Board of Trade. (_See_ RUNNING
AGREEMENT.)

AGROUND. The situation of a ship or other vessel whose bottom touches or
rests upon the ground. It also signifies stranded, and is used
figuratively for being disabled or hindered.

AGUA-ARDIENTE [Sp.] Corrupted into _aguardiente_,--the adulterated
brandy of Spain supplied to ships.

AGUADA. The Spanish and Portugue