Page 299 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

1662. The HALF HITCH as shown here is enerally the first step

in tying some more elaborate hitch. It shou d not be used unsup-

ported, as it is by no means dependable. But, if seized, it becomes

secure. The name HALF HITCH is given by Falconer (1769).

1663. The HALF HITCH, with the nip adjusted to bear at the top

of the spar, is quite a different thing. So long as the pull is constant,

and the adjustment is not altered by loosening or shaking, the hitch

is adequate for almost any temporary purpose.

1664. A SLIPPED HALF HITCH, with the nip near the top of the

spar, may also be used with discretion.

1665. The TIMBER HITCH, sometimes called LUMBERMAN'S KNOT

and COUNTRYMAN'S KNOT, was used at sea for securing the standing

ends of topsail clew lines and fore and main clew garnets, according

to the Manual of Seamanship (1891). In the ManusC1ipt on Rigging

(circa 1625), edited by R. C. Anderson, and published by the So-

ciety for Nautical Research, is the statement: "The tymber Hitch i~

to fasten the truss to the middle of ye Mayne yearde." Diderot illus-

1665'" 1&6&

trates the knot in 1762 and Steel illustrates and names it in 1794.

The hitch is much used in handling cargo, for which it is very

convenient, as it practically falls apart when pull ceases. It is used

for spars, timber, small crates and bales. The turns should always be

# • •
"dogged" WIth the lay of the rope. Three tucks or turns are ample.

1666. A FIGURE-EIGHT HITCH is more secure than the HALF HITCH

(*1662), particularly if the encompassed object is small.

1667. The above knot, slipped, was formerly tied in wicks and

used in candle dipping.

1668. The FIGURE-EIGHT TIMBER HITCH is approximately as secure

as * 1665 and requires one less tuck.

1669. The FIGURE-EIGHT HITCH and round tum. If the rope is

weak and the hoist is heavy, a round tum on the standing part adds

materially to the strength of the knot.

166 1670
1670, 1671. The CLOVE HITCH is a common POST HITCH. When

made fast to a spar, the end should either be stopped ('II- 1670) or half

\611
hitched (* 167 I) to its own standing part, as the knot has a tendency

to slip. The name CLOVE HITCH appears in Falconer's Dictionary

( 17 69).

1672. The CLOVE HITCH with the end tucked through the standing

part is a semipermanent hitch that is used in boat lashing.

1673. The Cow HITCH or LANYARD HITCH is the knot that is em-

ployed in securing a lanyard to a shroud. It is the same knot forma-

tion as the BALE SLING HITCH, or RING HITCH ('II- 1859), and the

RUNNING EYE ('II- 1699), but the Cow HITCH is tied in the end of the

I 6"J 2. I 67 3

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