BAHAR. A commercial weight of a quarter of a ton in the Molucca Islands. BAIDAR. A swift open canoe of the Arctic tribes and Kurile Isles, used in pursuing otters and even whales; a slender frame from 18 to 25 feet long, covered with hides. They are impelled by six or twelve paddles. (_See_ KAYAK.) BAIKIE. A northern name for the _Larus marinus_, or black-backed gull. BAIKY. The ballium, or inclosed plot of ground in an ancient fort. BAIL. A surety. The cargo of a captured or detained vessel is not allowed to be taken on bail before adjudication without mutual consent. It was also a northern term for a beacon or signal. BAIL-BOND. The obligation entered into by sureties. Also when a person appears as proxy for the master of a vessel, or, on obtaining letters of marque, he makes himself personally responsible. In prize matters, however, the bail-bond is not a mere personal security given to the individual captors, but an assurance to abide by the adjudication of the court. BAIL'D. This phrase "I'll be bail'd" is considered as an equivalent to "I'll be bound;" but it is probably an old enunciation for "I'll be poisoned," or "I'll be tormented," if what I utter is not true. BAILO. A Levantine term for consul. BAILS, OR BAILES. The hoops which bear up the tilt of a boat. BAIOCCO. An Italian copper coin, about equal to our halfpenny. Also a generic term for copper money or small coin. BAIRLINN. A Gaelic term for a high rolling billow. BAIT. The natural or artificial charge of a hook, to allure fish. BAITLAND. An old word, formerly used to signify a port where refreshments could be procured. BALÆNA. The zoological name for the right whale. BALANCE. One of the simple mechanical powers, used in determining the weights and masses of different bodies. Also, one of the twelve signs of the zodiac, called Libra. Balance-wheel of a chronometer--_see_ CHRONOMETER. BALANCE, TO. To contract a sail into a narrower compass;--this is peculiar to the mizen of a ship, and to the main-sail of those vessels wherein it is extended by a boom. The operation of balancing the mizen is performed by lowering the yard or gaff a little, then rolling up a small portion of the sail at the peak or upper corner, and lashing it about one-fifth down towards the mast. A boom main-sail is balanced by rolling up a portion of the clew, or lower aftermost corner, and fastening it strongly to the boom.--N.B. It is requisite in both cases to wrap a piece of old canvas round the sail, under the lashing, to prevent its being fretted by the latter. BALANCE-FISH. The hammer-headed shark (which see). BALANCE-FRAMES. Those frames or bends of timber, of an equal capacity or area, which are equally distant from the ship's centre of gravity. BALANCE OF TRADE. A computation of the value of all commodities which we import or export, showing the difference in amount.