at 32 deg.; mercury at 39 deg. 5' below zero.
All fluids change their degree of freezing in accordance with mixtures of
alcohol or solutions of salt used for the purpose. Also, according to the
atmospheric pressure; and by this law heights of mountains are measured
by the boiling temperature of water.

FREIGHT. By former English maritime law it became the _mother of wages_,
as the crew were obliged to moor the ship on her return in the docks or
forfeit them. So severely was the axiom maintained, that if a ship was
lost by misfortune, tempest, enemy, or fire, wages also were forfeited,
because the freight out of which they were to arise had perished with
it. This harsh measure was intended to augment the care of the seamen
for the welfare of the ship, but no longer holds, for by the merchant
shipping act it is enacted that no right of wages shall be dependent on
the earning of freight; in cases of wreck, however, proof that a man has
not done his utmost bars his claim. Also, for the burden or lading of a
ship. (_See_ DEAD-FREIGHT.) Also, a duty of 50 sols per ton formerly
paid to the government of France by the masters of foreign vessels going
in or out of the several ports of that kingdom. All vessels not built in
France were accounted foreign unless two-thirds of the crew were French.
The Dutch and the Hanse towns were exempted from this duty of
freight.--_To freight a vessel_, means to employ her for the carriage of
goods and passengers.

FREIGHT OF A SHIP. The hire, or part thereof, usually paid for the
carriage and conveyance of goods by sea; or the sum agreed upon between
the owner and the merchant for the hire and use of a vessel, at the rate
of so much for the voyage, or by the month, or per ton.

FREIGHTER. The party who hires a vessel or part of a vessel for the
carriage of goods.

FREIGHTING. A letting out of vessels on freight or hire; one of the
principal practices in the trade of the Dutch.

FRENCH FAKE. A name for what is merely a modification of the Flemish
coil, both being extremely good for the object, that is, when a rope has
to be let go suddenly, and is required to run freely. _Fake_, in
contradistinction to long coil is, run a rope backward and forward in
one-fathom bends, beside each other, so that it may run free, as in
rocket-lines, to communicate with stranded vessels. (_See_ FLEMISH
FAKE.)

FRENCH LAKE. A soubriquet for the Mediterranean.

FRENCH LEAVE. Being absent without permission.