NAUTICAL  DICTIONARY.                             [MAG

Royal Dockyards for carrying chain cables, tanks, or any other
weighty stores to vessels, &c., and for weighing moorings.

LUMPERS. A name given to labourers employed in loading
and unloading vessels : more particularly applicable to such as
contract to do the work by the lump.

LUNAR DAY. The interval between the departure and
return of a meridian to the moon.    See Day.

LUNAR DISTANCE, in nautical astronomy, the distance of
the moon from the sun or from a fixed star; the measurement of
which is found to be of the greatest use in ascertaining longitudes.
(Squire's Grammar of Astronomy.)

There are generally, or ought to be, four persons employed in
taking the lunar observations, or (as they are called) Lunarsi
' one to measure the lunar distance, another to take the altitude
of the sun or a fixed star, the third to take the altitude of the
moon, and a fourth to note the time per watch and to write down
the different observations ; the first observer, whenever his in¬
strument brings the two bodies into apparent contact, calls out
" stop," in order that the observations of the others may agree in
time with his.'

LUNAR OBSERVATIONS. See Lunar Distance, and
Lunar Tables,

LUNAR TABLES are * logarithmic tables for correcting the
apparent distance of the moon from the sun, or from a fixed star
on account of refraction and parallax.' Horary Tables, are
* tables of logarithms intended to facilitate the computation of
time deduced from the altitude of a celestial object.' There are
several publications of this description: Captain Shadwell's
Tables for facilitating the reduction of Lunar Observations", Mr,
David Thomson's Horary and Lunar Tables ; and those of Mrs.
Taylor and Mr. Gordon.

LYING TO. When a vessel's weather-bow is kept to the
wind and sea with one sail set and the helm lashed alee, she is
lying to. To lay a ship to is to bring her into this position. To
heave to is often (whether correctly or not) used in the same
 

MADE. A made mast or block means one which is composed
of several pieces.    See Built,

MAGAZINE. A close apartment built in a ship's hold for
containing powder.    See Light-room,

247