It was a popular type of vessel in the Baltic Sea and was employed by a large number of nations during its time.

The use of this characteristic snow-mast offered several advantages over attaching the gaff directly to the main mast.

The resulting freedom allowed a snow, in contrast to a brig, to fly a main course without complications, as they typically did.

[7] However, in the late 18th century, brigs started to set main courses as well, which gave rise to the term snow-brig.

The twin brigs Lawrence and Niagara, American warships which participated in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, were both snow-brigs.