outh of the
river, will be the _bar_. If both the shores are of the same nature,
which seldom happens, the bar will lie opposite the middle of the
channel. Rivers in general have what may be deemed a bar, in respect of
the depth of the channel within, although it may not rise high enough to
impede the navigation--for the increased deposition that takes place
when the current slackens, through the want of declivity, and of shores
to retain it, must necessarily form a bank. Bars of small rivers may be
deepened by means of stockades to confine the river current, and prolong
it beyond the natural points of the river's mouth. They operate to
remove the place of deposition further out, and into deeper water. Bars,
however, act as breakwaters in most instances, and consequently secure
smooth water within them. The deposit in all curvilinear or serpentine
rivers will always be found at the point opposite to the curve into
which the ebb strikes and rebounds, deepening the hollow and depositing
on the tongue. Therefore if it be deemed advisable to change the
position of a bar, it may be in some cases aided by works projected on
the last curve sea-ward. By such means a parallel canal may be forced
which will admit vessels under the cover of the bar.--_Bar_, a boom
formed of huge trees, or spars lashed together, moored transversely
across a port, to prevent entrance or egress.--_Bar_, the short bits of
bar-iron, about half a pound each, used as the medium of traffic on the
Negro coast.--_Bar-harbour_, one which, from a bar at its entrance,
cannot admit ships of great burden, or can only do so at
high-water.--_Capstan-bars_, large thick bars put into the holes of the
drumhead of the capstan, by which it is turned round, they working as
horizontal radial levers.--_Hatch-bars_, flat iron bars to lock over the
hatches for security from theft, &c.--_Port-bar_, a piece of wood or
iron variously fitted to secure a gun-port when shut.--_Bar-shallow_, a
term sometimes applied to a portion of a bar with less water on it than
on other parts of the bar.--_Bar-shot_, two half balls joined together
by a bar of iron, for cutting and destroying spars and rigging. When
whole balls are thus fitted they are more properly double-headed
shot.--_To bar._ To secure the lower-deck ports, as above.

BARACOOTA. A tropical fish (_Sphyraena baracuda_), considered in the West
Indies to be dangerously poisonous at times, nevertheless eaten, and
deemed the sea-s