Page 304 - The Ashley Book of Knots

HITCHES TO SPAR AND RAIL (RIGHT -ANGLE PULL)

1707. The remaining knots of this chapter are LOOSE HITCHES in

which one or more turns are taken about the spar and the end is

secured around the standing part. 1701

The HALF HITCH is the basic knot in this series as well as in the

last. But with the end drawn close around the standing part, it is

. undependable. In order to hold well, it should be arranged as

166 3.

1708. The loop of the SLIPPED HALF HITCH bulks larger than the

single end of 'N 1707; for that reason it is perhaps a better hitch. It is

a very common knot, but it is improved when arranged as the fol-

lowing knot.

1709. The "HALF HITCHED HALF HITCH" is a good knot that can-

not jam, will not slip, and unties easily. '110 '11 ( 11 12.

1710. Two HALF HITCHES is the commonest of all hitches for

mooring in particular and also for general utility. Steel gives the

name in 1794. The difference between Two HALF HITCHES and the

CLOVE HITCH is that the fonner, after a single turn around a spar,

is made fast around its own standing part, while the latter is tied

directly around the spar.

1711. The BUNTLINE HITCH, when bent to a yard, makes a more

secure knot than Two HALF HITCHES, but is more liable to jam. It

differs from Two HALF HITCHES in that the second HALF HITCH

•

is inside instead of outside the first one. '"T I '4 I' IS"

1712. The SLIPPED BUNTLINE HITCH has been recommended in

agricultural college bulletins as a means of "tying up" horses.

1713. REVERSE HITCHES has less tendency to jam than Two HALF

HITCHES (which has practically none) and is not a bad hitch for

many purposes. It hardly seems to deserve the opprobrium that

has been heaped upon it. Captain Benjamin A. Higgins, in answer

to a question of mine, said: "I don't know what you call it; but if I

catch the Greenie that tied it, 1 know what I'll call him!"

1714. The LOBSTER Buoy HITCH was shown to me years ago by

171 Q
John B. Cornell, of Cuttyhunk, who used it for about every pur-

pose and claimed it was particularly good to tie to timber. As the

chief industry of Cuttyhunk was wrecking, I value his opinion

highly on such a point. The knot is tied tightly around the standing

part and then is slipped along the rope snugly into place. Compare

with # 1711.

1715. The SLIP NOOSE HITCH is a common farm knot, and is used

the world over for "tying up" or hitching horses to fence rails.

1716. The BOWLINE HITCH: A sailor will often, having passed his

rope around an object, face about and tie a BOWLINE in the regular

fashion. A landsman who is acquainted with the knot will usually 11 (8

forIll the round turn (shown in second diagram) with his left hand

and reeve the end as shown by the arrow. The preferred sailor way

is to make a HALF HITCH, as in the first diagram, and then capsize it

by pul1ing the end. The knot is then completed as shown by the

arrow.

1717. A HALF HITCH in standing rigging is always seized.

1718. A ROUND TURN AND HALF HITCH is also seized.

1719. Two HALF HITCHES, on deck, is not seized; but aloft or in

ground tackle it is seized onco and (rarely) twice. The greater the

permanency of any gear, the reater is the care exercised in its tying.

Riggers never seem to tire 0 adding seizings.

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