Page 23 - Alpheus Hyatt Verrill "Knots, Splices and Rope-Work"

The Clove hitch with ends knotted becomes the "Gunners' Knot" (Fig. 37). These are
among the most valuable and important of knots and are useful in a thousand and one
places. The Clove hitch will hold fast on a smooth timber and is used extensively by
builders for fastening the stageing to the upright posts. It is also useful in making a tow-
line fast to a wet spar, or timber, and even on a slimy and slippery spile it will seldom
slip.

For this purpose the "Timber Hitch" (Fig. 38) is even better than the Clove hitch. It is
easily made by passing the end of a rope around the spar or log, round the standing part
of the rope and then twist it three or more times around, under and over itself.