Page 315 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

1814. A CLOVE HITCH is used in tying the bight of a line to a pile.

Sometimes it jams, but not often.

1815. A PILE HITCH may be easily and quickly tied either in the

t81S' end or bight of a heavy line. It is remarkably secure and is easy to

cast off when the left bight has been loosened by a single well-aimed

kick. Recommended for medium and heavy lines.

1St To tie: Lead a loop from either the end or center of a line once

around the post from either direction and under the standing part,

then drop the loop over the post.

IS02. To remove: When tied in the bight, slack off the line and force

the left bight to the left and then lift the loop from the ile, or, if

tied in the end, withdraw the end from under the bight, a ter which

the knot may be unwound .

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1816. A BIGHT HITCH is often required when tying up to a wharf

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'.Jill with a single long line. This knot, the form of which is the same as

a Cow HITCH, is made by dropping two opposite SINGLE HITCHES
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over the post. It will never bind or jam and requires little length of

181& rope but, like all the other BIGHT HITCHES so far given, it must be

slackened before it can be removed.

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I I : 1817. If a BIGHT HITCH is wanted that may be untied without

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·,,,,1,-, slacking off the line, which is sometimes difficult to do, particularly

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• . in the swift-flowing water of a river or canal, start as if to tie a Cow
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HITCH but, instead of tucking under at the final turn, merely seize

the loop as pictured. To untie, cut the seizing.

1818. A CROSSING HITCH is required on posts in staking out lines

with which to guide the populace at circuses, inaugurations and

similar occasions. Proceed along a line of stakes, twisting one bight

at ;:I, time and dropping it over the head of a stake. Draw the hitch

taut by first pulling the end backward and then forward; it will as-

sume the fOI'1ll shown in the lower drawing.

1819. In hauling out a boat or in moving a building it is often nec-

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essary to anchor the standing end of a rope or tackle with a series of

stakes. Large drills or crowbars rna be used for the purpose. The

stakes are driven at such an angle t at a line connecting the top of

the forward stake with the base of the next stake will be approxi-

mately at right angles to both. A number of turns of a short rope

are hauled hand-taut between the two stakes and stout sticks are

introduced in the center of these straps. The sticks are twisted until

the straps are taut and then the lower end of each stick is driven into

the ground.

1820. If large wooden stakes are used, the straps can generally be

tightened sufficiently with a few frapping turns, requiring no twist-

ing. Sometimes a long ro e made fast to the base of the forward stake

is wound to the top an then led to the base of the next stake with

a few turns, in which case no individual straps are needed. The bot-

tom turns may have frapping turns added or they may be twisted

as ~ 1819.

1820

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