he stock-fish.

FISH-SPEAR. An instrument with barbed spikes.

FISH-TACKLE. A tackle employed to hook and draw up the flukes of a
ship's anchor towards the top of the bow, after catting, in order to
stow it; formerly composed of four parts, viz. the pendant, the block,
the hook, and the tackle, for which see DAVIT.

FISH THE ANCHOR, TO. To turn up the flukes of an anchor to the gunwale
for stowage, after being catted.--_Other fish to fry_, a common
colloquialism, expressing that a person has other occupation demanding
his attention.

FISH-WIFE, OR FISH-WOMAN. A female carrier and vendor of fish in our
northern cities.

FIST, TO. To handle a rope or sail promptly; thus _fisting_ a thing is
readily getting hold of it.

FIT FOR DUTY. In an effective state for service.

FIT RIGGING, TO. To cut or fit the standing and running rigging to the
masts, &c.

FIT-ROD. A small iron rod with a hook at the end, which is put into the
holes made in a vessel's side, to ascertain the length of the bolts or
tree-nails required to be driven in.

FITTED FURNITURE. Rudder-chocks, bucklers, hawse-plugs, dead-lights,
pump-boxes, and other articles of spare supply, sent from the dockyard.

FITTERS. Persons in the north who vend and load coals, fitting ships
with cargoes, &c.

FITTING OUT A SHIP. The act of providing a ship with sufficient masts,
sails, yards, ammunition, artillery, cordage, anchors, provisions,
stores, and men, so that she is in proper condition for the voyage or
purpose to which she is appointed.

FIUMARA. A term common to the Italian coasts for a mountain torrent.

FIVE-FINGERS. The name given to the _Asterias_, or star-fish, found on
our shore. Cocker in 1724 describes it thus: "_Five-fingers_, a fish
like a spur-rowel, destructive to oysters, to be destroyed by the
admiralty law." They destroy the spat of oysters.

FIVE-SHARE MEN. In vessels, as whalers, where the men enter on the
chances of success, &c., in shares.

FIX BAYONETS! Ship them ready for use.

FIXED AMMUNITION. Is, complete in each round, the cartridge being
attached to the projectile, to facilitate simultaneous loading. In the
British service it is only used for small mountain-pieces, but in the
French for field-artillery in general. It does not stow conveniently.

FIXED BLOCKS. Solid pieces of oak let through the sides of the ship, and
fitted with sheaves, to lead the tacks, sheets, &c., of the courses
in-board.

FIXED STAR. _See_ STARS