Page 300 - The Ashley Book of Knots

HITCHES TO SPAR AND RAIL (RIGHT -ANGLE PULL)

rigging lanyard while the BALE SLING HITCH is tied in the bight of a

continuous strap or wreath and a RUNNING EYE is tied in an EYE

SPLICE.

I b7 t\- '6'1'5"

1674. This brings us to SNUG HITCHES, in which the end is secured

under a turn. This one is both strong and secure. It is well to draw

up all knots carefully before putting them to work.

1675. Another hitch that is equally secure and, moreover, does not

bind or jam. In big material particularly a knot that does not jam

is most desirable.

1676. The PICKET-LINE HITCH is a practical SNUG HITCH that does

not slip when properly drawn up. It was shown to me by J. Law-

rence Houghteling, who learned it while in service with the artillery.

It does not appear to be a regulation army knot. It should be noted

l 61 6

that this knot is the start for a 3L X ~ TURK'S-HEAD. The same

formation, reversed, is used by fishermen on their trawl and is shown,

at the bottom of this page, as the GROUND LINE HITCH.

1677. GAFF TOPSAIL HALYARD BEND. This is a neat and snug

hitch that is very easily untieel. The tucked end should be nipped

well up on the top of the spar.

1678. The STUDDING-SAIL BEND is used for bending topgallant and

royal studding-sail halyards. Except for the manner of securing the

end, it is the same knot as the FISHERMAN'S BEND (~I 7 2 2 ). Having

tied the previous hitch (~I 677 ), lead the end back over the first '6,.1

turn and tuck under the second. It is not necessary to lead the end 1678

toward the top of the spar as the additional tuck makes it sufficiently

secure. Brady names and describes the knot in 1841, saying, "The

advantage is this, that it lies close to the yard and consequently

permits of little or no drift between the yard and the block."

1679. The TOPSAIL HALYARD BEND is said to be a yachting hitch,

but it is possible that it has never appeared outside the covers of a

book. It has one more turn than the STUDDING-SAIL BEND and this,

like the second tablespoonful of castor oil, savors of redundancy.

1680. The GROUND LINE HITCH is the standard knot of the cod l b19

fishermen. It is used in affixing ganging lines to the ground line of

CODFISH TRAWL ~277. A short bight near the end is held with the

'eft thumb against the heavier ground line, and two tight turns are

laken to the right with the end, and the end is then stuck through

the bight that has been held by the left thumb. The standing part

is then pulled snug. Tied in this way, very little end is wasted. The

gangings are fixed to the ground line at frequent intervals and the

loose ends of the gangings, before they are secured to the ground line,

are fitted with 100 s to which, at the proper time, hooks are at-

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tached by means 0 RING HITCHES (~3 1 1 ). -

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1660