Page 38 - Alpheus Hyatt Verrill "Knots, Splices and Rope-Work"
P. 38
CHAPTER V
SHORTENINGS, GROMMETS, AND SELVAGEES
In many cases a rope may prove too long for our use or the free ends may be awkward, or
in the way. At such times a knowledge of "shortenings" is valuable. There are quite a
variety of these useful knots, nearly all of which are rather handsome and ornamental, in
fact a number of them are in constant use aboard ship merely for ornament.
The simplest form of shortening, shown in Fig. 67, is a variation of the common and
simple overhand knot already described and illustrated.
These knots are formed by passing the end of a rope twice or more times through the loop
of the simple knot and then drawing it tight (Fig. 68). They are known as "Double,"
"Treble," "Fourfold," or "Sixfold" knots and are used to prevent a rope from passing
through a ring or block as well as for shortening.
