ing them.

EEL-FARES. A fry or brood of eels.

EEL-GRASS. A name for the sea-wrack (_Zostera marina_); it is thrown
ashore by the sea in large quantities.

EEL-POUT. A name for the burbot (_Molva lota_), a fresh-water fish.

EEL-SKUYT. _See_ DUTCH EEL-SKUYT.

EEL-SPEAR. A sort of trident with ten points for catching eels, called
in Lincolnshire an _eel-stang_.

EFFECTIVE. Efficient, fit for service; it also means the being present
and at duty.

EFFECTS. Personal property; sale of effects; or the auction of the
property of deceased officers and seamen:

"The _effects_ of that sail
Will be a sale of _effects_."

EFFLUENT, OR DIVERGENT, applied to any stream which runs out of a lake,
or out of another river. All tributaries are affluents.

EGG, TO. To instigate, incite, provoke, to urge on: from the Anglo-Saxon
_eggion_.

EGGS. These nutritious articles of food might be used longer at sea than
is usual. The shell of the egg abounds with small pores, through which
the aqueous part of the albumen constantly exhales, and the egg in
consequence daily becomes lighter, and approaches its decomposition.
Reaumur varnished them all over, and thus preserved eggs fresh for two
years; then carefully removing the varnish, he found that such eggs were
still capable of producing chickens. Some employ, with the same
intention, lard or other fatty substance for closing the pores, and
others simply immerse the egg for an instant in boiling water, by which
its albumen is in part coagulated, and the power of exhalation thereby
checked. Eggs packed in lime-water suffered to drain, have after three
years' absence in the West Indies been found good; this does not destroy
vitality.

EGMONT, OR PORT EGMONT FOWLS. The large Antarctic gulls with dark-brown
plumage, called _shoemakers_.

EGRESS. At a transit of an inferior planet over the sun, this term means
the passing off of the planet from his disc.

EGYPTIAN HERRING. A northern coast name for the gowdanook, saury-pike,
or _Scomberesox saurus_.

EIDER DUCK. The _Somateria mollissima_. A large species of duck,
inhabiting the coasts of the northern seas. The down of the breast, with
which it lines its nest, is particularly valuable on account of its
softness and lightness.

EIGHEN. The index of the early quadrant.

EILET-HOLE [Fr. _[oe]illet_]. _Refer to_ EYELET-HOLES.

EJECTAMENTA MARIS. Sea products thrown on the beach, whence they become
droits of admiralty. (_Se