Page 71 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

Kite Flying

385. To tie the ribs of a kite together, the TRANSOM KNOT

(~ 1 255), which is a mo<ilification of the CONSTRICTOR (~I 249), will

serve nicely.

386. Tails on old-fashioned kites almost always had crossbands

called bobs designed to furnish aerial friction and so check the kite's

tendency to dart here and there. For this purpose wads of paper are

usually tied at intervals; sometimes, on large kites, short sticks are

used instead. A cord or rope tail may have double loops added in the

manner given here. First make a series of FIRE-EsCAPE KNOTS (~564)

by the method that is given at the beginning of Chapter 4, then stick

a loop in each knot as indicated in the aiagram given here.

387. Kite strings were generally wound up on a stick in this man-

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ner, which is particularly adapted to wet or moist line. The turns :ue

loose and open so that the cord will dry out readily if the reel is

placed in a draft.

The Miller

388. The BAG Kt"lOT (s!1.me as the MILLER'S KNOT (I), # 1 241).

389. The SACK K.."I0T (same as the MILLER'S KNOT (2), #1242).

390. The MILLER'S KNOT (same as the SACK KNOT # 1 243). The

names of these three knots are interchangeable. Many millers use a

round tum with the ends reef knotted or else secured with a DRAWKNOT

or HALF BOWKNOT. Some employ a CLOVE HITCH, slipped, which is

the least practical. Additional BAG KNOTS are given in Chapters 16 & 27.

The CONSTRICTOR KNOT (#1249) is the securest of all; but it is not easily

388 ~ untied unless a SLIP Loop is added.

The Mountain Climber

These knots may also be of service to the bird nester and the tree

scaler. Additional knots of interest to the climber may be found

, r . under "Steeplejack" and "Tree Surgeon" in this chapter.
l , .

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I was once asked by an official of a mountain-climbing club to

recommend a knot that could be used by a man while climbin alone.

This necessitates a knot which can be spilled from below a ter the

389 390 climber has lowered himself from a higher level. The following knots

~ .' resulted.
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-.. ,
391. The PRECIPICE KNOT is the SLIPPERY HITCH with an OVER-

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" HAND KNOT (~1606) added to the end.

The SLIPPERY HITCH is the answer to the sailor's favorite riddle for

landsmen: "How would you lower yourself over a precipice with a

rope that is just long enough to reach the ground, and then recover

your rope before proceeding?" All that is necessar is to select a
u", ... ' -
• .,. --'i'_
• r ~ • precipice with a convenient tree. When you have sa ely landed, flirt

. ~
• • • • the rope to free the hitchod end .
•
•
• • -
•

.t; " This knot should be studied carefully, since other knots require

~I twice the length of rope; but it is no knot to trifle with. Unless the

3'2.
climber has an innate understanding or feeling for knots, he had

better leave it alone.

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