\Ship"ping note\ (Com.)
A document used in shipping goods by sea. In the case of free
goods the shipping notes are the
{receiving note}, addressed by the shipper to the chief
   officer of the vessel, requesting him to receive on board
   specified goods, and a receipt for the mate to sign, on
   receiving whose signature it is called the
{mate's receipt}, and is surrendered by the shipper for the
   bills of lading.