STOWING-STRAKE. _See_ STEELER.

STRAGGLING-MONEY. If a man be absent from his duty without leave, but
not absent long enough to be logged as _run_, and is brought on board, a
deduction is to be made from his wages at the discretion of the captain;
not, however, to exceed the sum of L1.

STRAIGHT OF BREADTH. The space before and abaft the dead-flat, in which
the ship is of the same uniform breadth as at the dead-flat.

STRAIN-BANDS. Bands of canvas sustaining the strain on the belly of the
sails, and reinforced by the linings, &c.

STRAIT, OR STRAIGHT. A passage connecting one part of a sea with
another; as, the Straits of Gibraltar, of Sunda, of Dover, &c. This word
is often written in the plural, but without competent reason.

STRAIT GULF. An arm of the sea running into the land through a narrow
entrance channel, as the Gulf of Venice. The Mediterranean itself is but
a vast strait gulf.

STRAKE. One breadth of plank in a ship, either within or without board,
wrought from the stem to the stern-post.--_Garboard-strake._ The lowest
range of planks, faying into the keel-rabbets.--_Wash-strake_ guards
spray.

STRAND. A number of rope-yarns twisted together; one of the twists or
divisions of which a rope is composed. The part which passes through to
form the eye of a splice. Also, a sea-margin; the portion alternately
left and covered by tides. Synonymous with _beach_. It is not altered
from the original Anglo-Saxon.

STRANDED. A rope is stranded when one of its strands is broken by
chafing, or by a strain. A vessel is stranded when driven on shore, in
which case the justices of the peace may call in assistance. The term
"stranded on the beach," is not so incorrect as has been asserted; and
comes under the usual exception in charter-parties and bills of lading,
of "all and every dangers of the seas, rivers, and navigation of
whatsoever nature or kind;" and in all policies of insurance it falls
under the general words of "all other perils, losses, or misfortunes,"
against the risk of which the insurance is made.

STRANGE SAIL. A vessel heaving in sight, of which the particulars are
unknown.

STRAPS OF THE RUDDER. _See_ PINTLES.

STRATAGEM. A plan devised to throw dust into the eyes of an enemy, in
order to deceive him.

STRATEGY. The science of the naval and military combinations which
compel movements and battles, or the contrary, but not including the
operations of actual battle, which belong to _tactics_