This article was written 10 years ago as the culmination of research for my 7th Sea campaign in an effort to bring more authenticity to naval matters in that RPG.  After having been posted to an earlier website it was linked to from a number of other websites including being referenced as source material in the early design stages of the Pirates of the Burning Sea MMORPG. I offer it here as a reference for the RPG hobbiest and Age of Sale enthusiast.  Feel free to link, download, repost, or otherwise disseminate.  Please maintain all credit should you do so.