"The timbers are at right angles with the keel, and in large vessels are formed of several pieces. Across the keel is laid the floor timber, which is the connecting link between the pair of ribs. In the middle of the ship, the floor is nearly flat; but near the stern-post the timbers strike the keel at an acute angle, and in the same manner at a less angle at the bows. "Above the floor timbers is laid the keelson, which is a large and strong timber a foot square or more in large vessels. These pieces are fitted together, and bolted to the keel through the timbers. The sharp angle at the stern is filled with solid wood. As you have seen, the floor timbers are parts of the ribs," continued the principal, pointing to a diagram of a full rib. "The next two sticks, forming the sharpest bend in the timber, are the futtocks, above which are the top timbers and the lengthening pieces. The plankshear is placed on the top of the timbers, extending from bow to stern, even with the upper deck, if there is more than one. "Large ships have two, three, and even four decks. Fastened to the timbers are pieces called shelves, upon which rest the beams or timbers extending across the ship, upon which the decks are laid. In the corners, where the beams join the ribs, are placed the knees (timbers like brackets) in which the angle is formed by the natural growth of the wood. Of course all these pieces are bolted together in the strongest manner. "The timbers next to the stem are the knight-heads. They extend upwards higher than the tops of the other ribs, and assist in the support of the bowsprit. In the keel, stem, and stern-post, a rabbet, or triangular groove, is cut out, into which the planks are extended. The first course of the planking, next to the keel, whether composed of one or many pieces, is called the garboard streak. This word is often written _strake_. The other word is more commonly used in this country. "The next coarse above the garboard streak is the bilge streak, which may consist of several widths of plank. Above there are the wales, and still higher the shear streaks. Some of these terms are applied to the parts of the ship as localities. The bilge is where the sharpest bend comes in the hull; the wales are the sides near the load line.