Page 307 - The Ashley Book of Knots
P. 307
THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS
1733. The TIMBER HITCH AND HALF HITCH is used when towing
a spar. If the spar is long several SINGLE HITCHES may be added.
There should always be one at the forward extremity. This knot is
also used in hoisting a light spar "on end."
\733 I have an old photograph of a wrecker towing a spar with this
knot behind a skiff, which he is propelling with a single scull oar.
The knot appears to be unil7f~rsal and invariable.
1734. The ROLLING Hn ... u (I), formerly called MAGNUS and MAG-
NER'S HITCH, is simple to tie and the most reliable single knot under
a lengthwise pull. It should be made and loaded carefully. This is
the way the turns should be taken in bending to a spar.
1735. ROLLING HITCH (2). Here is the way the turns are taken in
bending to a rope, which is similar to the arrangement of the turns
in the MIDSHIPMAN'S HITCH Olh 7 29)'
1736. MAGNUS HITCH. Instead of jj!: 1734, the final hitch is some-
1136
times reversed when tying to a cable or rope, particularly if the rope
is slack. This tends to obviate torsion or twisting. Steel shows this
form of the knot in 1794 under the old name MAGNUS HITCH.
1737. The ROLLING HITCH is said to be less liable to slip when
pulled in the direction of the final hitch if a HALF HITCH is added as
shown.
1738. A hitch to a double line that rna be pulled from either di-
rection. This is made fast to the head 0 a seine, and is used when
attaching a buoy.
1739. A single-hitched CLOVE HITCH is sometimes put in the end
of a tail block, but it is by no means so dependable as the ROLLING
HITCH and presumably is tied by the inexpert.
1740. This is an attempt to make a hitch that will not give or
render under pull from either direction. It appears to be dependable.
1741. The CAMEL HITCH was found on the picket line in Ringlin
Brothers' Circus. Not only must the knot remain secure from a pu J
in either direction; it must also untie without too much difficulty
17 ct3
while very wet.
1742. Two round turns seized. A method of bending a ring rope
to a cable. A ring rope was used to haul a cable out through the
hawse pipe. It was led to a tail block fastened at the bowsprit.
1743. A REEF PENDANT HITCH is shown by Qualtrough. This is an
improvement over a cleat on the boom, which is always in the way.
But I think that some of the CIRCUS POLE HITCHES shown in Chapter
2, which also properly belong in the present chapter, are an improve-
ment over old practices and are to be recommended for purposes of
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this nature.
1744. An ARBOREAL HITCH or TREE SURGEON'S KNOT from the
Bartlett tree surgeons. The practical way of employing this knot is
\
described on page 77.
1745. The STEEPLEJACK'S HITCH is found on page 74. It was
1146 supplied by Laurie Young. It has one more turn than the ROLLING
HITCH. With stirrups suspended from two of these, the tallest flag-
pole may be climbed in comfort .
... 47
1746. SLACK LINE HITCH. After it has once nipped, this knot will
hold well, tied either to a slack rope or a cable of the same or larger
size. Drawn up snugly, it rna be pulled from either direction. But
it is not wholly satisfactory i tied to stiff braided rope.
