Page 134 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

Inuit Knots 123

The Fisherman's Bends
Although the occurrence of the Single Fisherman's Bend (Fig. 9) among the
Qeqertasussuk Knots is not totally unambiguous, it is obvious that it must
have been a structure the later Inuit were pleased to know. It occurs among
the Gullov Knots (Fig. 5), and the same structure was employed by the Point
Barrow Inuits around the 1880s at the far western side of the Arctic [25, p.
279, fig. 265], applied as a loop knot hitched onto a fishing hook.

Fig. 9. Single Fisherman's Bend

Fig. 10. Double Fisherman's Bend
Many peoples, apparently independently from each other, have come
across this loop knot. It has been described by the Greek physician Heraklas
almost two millennia ago [8], [9, pp. 101-151]. The two knots are structurally
equivalent, though they differ in functionality. However, knowledge of the loop
knot version may well imply familiarity with the structure as a bend.
The Fisherman's Bend structure, based on two symmetrically positioned
Single Overhand Knots, occurs as a bend on the baleen fishing lines. Baleen
is a tough smooth material, which is very resistant to a transverse load. The
edges of the flat monofilament may be deflected under a reasonably strong per-
pendicularly applied load, such as those obtained with a pair of narrow beaked
pliers. However, to achieve this via Single Overhand Knots, requires quite a
strong pull, which will cause the composing Overhand Knots to pull through
under tensioning. Hence to ensure knot stability, care in knotting is plainly
insufficient. It follows that one needs a more secure structure with better
friction-amplification properties. Without sacrificing the symmetry aspects,
one may try using Double Overhand Knots instead of single ones.
On the Ross sledge no form of Fisherman's Bend was reported [7], proba-
bly because no baleen had been used. Nearly all of the thong knots shown by
Boas [3, fig. 441 have been made secure by means of toggles, seizings, slits and
even sewings, but the Double Fisherman's Bend (Fig. 10) was used without
any additional precautions. This is not surprising as there is more surface