Dear dxb: I've read a lot of sea stories, but never one that mention "dib" as mainmast spport.
I've read a lot of interesting yarns about the timbers suitable for ship building. For instance, one
that when the replica of the Mayflower was being built, permission was sought to cut some ancient
oak on a royal preserve. The reply was that a request to cut that particular tree had been rejected
in the 1300. ( excact date was given) and the request was again rejected.
In Maine, tall pines were blazed with an arrowhead, and penalty for civilian cutting one was death.
I wonder if any of those trees are still standing.