Page 86 - The Ashley Book of Knots

OCCUPATIONAL KNOTS

Three-Legged Race

476. A HOBBLE KNOT is less complicated than it appears. Two

round turns are taken with a strip of sheeting about a gentleman's 416

leg, and then a SQUARE KNOT is added. Next, one round turn is taken

with each of the ends around a lady's leg. One left leg and one right

leg are tied together in order that the contestants may face in the

same direction. Sometimes pads are added to prevent the knots from

chafing.

The Trapper

477. There are fourteen folio plates of snares, nets, itfalls, dead-

falls, and traps in Diderot's Encyclopedia. The snare il ustrated here

is suitable for large game. A strong and resilient branch, longer than

is represented in the illustrations, is bent down in a semicircular arch

and its end placed against a smooth blazed spot on the trunk of an

adjacent tree. The adjustment is very delicate. At the slightest dis-

turbance of the rope the branch slips and straightens, jerking the

noose aloft, with the quarry dangling.

A South American lizard trap is illustrated as '/I. 206 I.

The Tree Surgeon

478. There is unsuspected virtue in a few turns of line. A single

ROUND TURN on a branch will allow a man to lower several times his . ~ ,. \

own weight. The device is much simpler to manipulate than a tackle

but, of course, will not serve for hoisting.

479. The TIMBER HITCH unties readily and is one of the most

practical of hitches for slinging cylindrical objects. iSo

480, 481. These are tree surgeon's variations of the MAGNUS HITCH

(~1734)' They work on the same principle as the CAMEL HITCH

(~215) and the steeplejack's SAFETy-BELT HITCH ('/1.452). All five

knots may be slid up and down with the hand, but they remain firm

under a pull on the standing part. 48.

482. A loop in which the seat ('/1.472) is slung.

The Upholsterer

482.

483. The TUFT KNOT. A length of strong twine is passed with a

long needle first down and then up through a mattress, the two

passages being about one eighth inch apart. A short piece of wicking

is placed in the loop that is left at the bottom and another between

the two ends at the top. Two HALF HITCHES are taken with one end

around the other, which is held straight. The latter is then pulled taut
483

and made fast with a HALF HITCH exactly as described for a BUTCH- === 184

ER'S KNOT ('/I. 183). Soft round leather }"atches are sometimes used

instead of tufts. ThesG are notched at either edge. ~

. ., . "
-' r
• •
484. Buttons are generally used on chairs and sofas instead of •• • • WI·
•
•
• • • t' .'

•
wicking. A button is threaded on a length of twine, and the two • • • ... •

•
I
ends, being laid up, are put through the needle's eye together. The • . ., • • ,

.. - .
needle is next stuck up through the cushion, then one end of the . .. ' .. . • •
- -

twine only is put through the top button. The end holding the top • • •

button is held taut, and Two HALF HITCHES are taken with the free

end, which is then hauled taut and locked with a HALF HITCH.