Can I recommend one or two more sources on the question of casks, barrels
and such? The details for some types of containers used in overseas trade
in the eighteenth century are spelled out in loving detail in John J.
McCusker's doctoral dissertation, "The Rum Trade..." (U of Pittsburgh,
1970), Appendix C (pp.768-878). Wet and dry measure are both discussed.
Fortunately, this appendix was soon transformed into a WMQ article,
"Weights and Measures in the Colonial Sugar Trade...," 3rd ser., vol.30
(19730, pp.599-624.

As with most McCusker pieces, if you skip the footnotes, you'll miss all
the best stuff.

In addition to the OED, check the entry for "barrel" in the Century
Dictionary (1890 or so).

Douglas Deal
Professor of History and Director of General Education
State University of New York at Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126
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(315)-312-5631 (voice mail)
(315)-312-3577 (FAX)

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