CARCASS. An iron shell for incendiary purposes, filled with a very fiercely flaming composition of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony, and tallow. It has three vents for the flame, and sometimes is equipped with pistol barrels, so fitted in its interior as to discharge their bullets at various times. CARCASS OF A SHIP. The ribs, with keel, stem, and stern-post, after the planks are stripped off. CARCATUS [from _caricato_, It.] A law-term for a freighted ship. CARD. The dial or face of the magnetic compass-card. "Reason the card, but passion is the gale."--_Pope._ Probably derived from _cardinal_. CARDINAL POINTS. The general name by which the north, east, south, and west rhumbs of the horizon are distinguished. CARDINAL POINTS OF THE ECLIPTIC. The equinoctial and solstitial points; namely, the commencement of Aries and Libra, and of Cancer and Capricornus. CARDINAL SIGNS. The zodiacal signs which the sun enters at the equinoxes and solstices. CARDINAL WINDS. Those from the due north, east, south, and west points of the compass. CAREEN, TO. A ship is said to careen when she inclines to one side, or lies over when sailing on a wind; off her keel or carina. CAREENING. The operation of heaving the ship down on one side, by arranging the ballast, or the application of a strong purchase to her masts, which require to be expressly supported for the occasion to prevent their springing; by these means one side of the bottom, elevated above the surface of the water, may be cleansed or repaired. (_See_ BREAMING.) But this operation is now nearly superseded by sheathing ships with copper, whereby they keep a clean bottom for several years. CAREENING BEACH. A part of the strand prepared for the purpose of a ship's being grounded on a list or careen, to repair defects. CARFINDO. One of the carpenter's crew. CARGO. The merchandise a ship is freighted with. CARGO-BOOK. The master of every coasting-vessel is required to keep a cargo-book, stating the name of the ship, of the master, of the port to which she belongs, and that to which she is bound; with a roll of all goods, shippers, and consignees. In all other merchant ships the cargo-book is a clean copy of all cargo entered in the gangway-book, and shows the mark, number, quality, and (if measurement goods) the dimensions of such packages of a ship's cargo. CARICATORE. Places where the traders of Sicily take in their goods, from _caricare_, to load. CARINA. An old term, from the Latin, for the keel, or a ship's bottom. The north-country term keel means an entire vessel: "So many keels touched the strand." (_See_ KEEL.) CARL, OR MALE HEMP. _See_ FIMBLE or FEMALE HEMP. CARLE-CRAB. The male of the black-clawed crab, _Cancer pagurus_; also of the partan or common crab. CARLINE-KNEES. Timbers going athwart the ship, from the sides to the hatchway, serving to sustain the deck on both sides.