Page 22 - Mario Bigon "The Morrow Guide to Knots"

Before putting a rope away,
there are a few basic things to
be done to keep it in good
condition for a long time. First
of all, check that the ends are
not frayed. If they are, they
should be cut and fused again
to bind them; then uncoil the
rope in the direction of the lay
and seize the ends. Clean
away any tar stains, and if it is
twisted or kinked run it
counterclockwise through a
block and lay it on the ground
in large turns to allow the
strands to settle.
Method
Coil the rope (see page 18),
leaving an end long enough
for the following operations:
make three or four turns
around the coil (1, 2); fold a
bight and insert it into the top
of the coil (3); open the bight
and bend it back over the top
of the coii (4); tighten it by
pulling the end (5). When
drawing the hitch taut, check
that the turns are even; the
rope should never be
tightened unevenly.