Mast question

[kevin klein]

I have been studying pictures of the masted ships and have seen on many of them there seems to be something wrapped in canvas along the lower front part of the mast. Is that a spare spar or extra sail canvas or something else? This image does not show as clearly as I would like but you get the idea.

 

[bekosh]

It's a wind scoop for ventilation. It catches the wind and funnels it below decks.
Modern sailboats will setup canvas to do the same thing.