NAUTICAL  dictionary.                            [OAE

in order to steady the rudder in case of the tiller being carried
away.    This was used only in large ships.

See Chain Cable Controller.

NORTHING (Fr. Chemin au Nord). The distance sailed
northwards. In like manner we speak of southing, easting, and
ivesting. * Northing and southing are measured in degrees of
longitude on a meridian ; easting and westing in degrees of lati¬
tude upon the Equator.'

NOSLES (or STEAM-PORTS) and NOSLE-FACES. See
description of Steam-Engine, Sect. 2.

NOTARY, or NOTARY-PUBLIC. A person legally em¬
powered to attest deeds or writings in order to give them the
stamp of authenticity. A notary is employed, among other
things, to note and to extend protests—that is, to enter a note of
the particulars relating to the protest in a book (called a protocol
book) kept by him for such purposes, and afterwards to write it
out fully and execute the document in form upon stamped paper.
British consuls and vice-consuls are empowered to act as notaries.
When neither a notary nor a consul is on the spot, a justice of
the peace may be employed in their stead ; and in the absence of
all these and of ' any person holding a public situation or office
in some degree connected with the British government,' it would
seem advisable generally to have the matter in question adjusted
and arranged before two respectable merchants.    See Protest,

NOTCH-BLOCKS. Single blocks with a notch cut in one
cheek to receive the bight of a rope so as to save the trouble of
reeving and unreeving the whole.    See Block, 10.

NOTHING OFF! is the order not to let the ship's head fall
off* from the wind.    See Near.

NUN-BUOYS, are somewhat in the form of casks, being large
in the middle and tapering towards each end.    See Buoy.

NUT. A small piece of iron with a screw hole cut through
the middle of it; used for screwing on to the end of a bolt
instead of clinching the bolt, and for similar purposes.

!i   .V    O      r    '     ^      ,.    -i!.    ''^- ■■ ^' i

OAKUM {Fr. fitoupe). Old rope untwisted and loosened out
to the original texture of hemp, in order to be used in caulking.

OAR (Fr, Aviron, Rame). A long piece of timber formed
with a flat blade at one end; used for propelling boats, or small
vessels of burden. The foremost oar is termed the Bow-oar \
and the aftermost the Stroke-oar,

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