In Portugal (16th century) the unit was the tonel, a cask
154 cm high and 102 cm wide, the pipa (1/2 tonel) and
the quarto (1/4 of
a tonel).
The ship’s capacity was
determined after its construction by a team of
experts with 154 cm gauges and 102 cm hoops.
There were equivalences:
1
tonel was the
equivalent of 750 roof tiles,
500 sugar formas,
14 quintais of metal,
…or half of an animal and its food.