Page 342 - The Ashley Book of Knots

OCCASIONAL KNOTS

the reach of the tide, is often so great that the extra wei ht of an

iron anchor is no small thing, and as it is no longer sa e in this

country to leave anything smaller than a large boat around loose,

an iron anchor would have to be taken home after each trip, along 2.05'0

with the oars and fish. A strong and close-woven canvas bag is re-

quired. Two bucketfuls will be enough sand for an ordinary skiff ,

in any weather that is fit for fishing.

2.0,-1

2050. Lay your anchor warp across the neck of the sack and turn

the neck back. Take a number of turns around the neck (seven or

eight), lead the end of the rope between the neck and the bag and

make the end of the rope fast to the standing part. This is a method I

have often seen employed on Horseneck Beach.

2051. The method that I have used myself is to tie with a MULTI-

FOLD BECKET HITCH. (See ~1902).

."

2052. A well-rounded stone from a shingle beach or an old cannon • . ~

. _ --(':'t ....
ball makes an excellent counterweight for a gate or a cellar door. ~ , .'

Place the stone in the center of a square of canvas. Gather the canvas •
2051

at the top and tie closely with a CONSTRICTOR KNOT (# I 188). Bend the

end to the standing part with a BOWLINE KNOT.

2053. To carry or hang up an irregular or globular object, such as

a watermelon or a roast of beef, take a piece of old hammock or

seine. Cut it to a size a little bigger than appears necessary and reeve

the end of a rope in and out in a rough circle through the outer

meshes. Place the object in the center and draw up the rope, which

acts as a puckering string. Secure with Two HALF HITCHES. If the

net fits too loosely, add a seizing close to the object that is to be

suspended. Carry over your shoulder, or on a tote pole between two

men.

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2054. A Spanish reef is an emergency method of shortening sail /'
-

in a small boat. Sometimes the mainsail of a sloop, when close reefed,

is too small for the jib as a whole, yet the bo~t will not steer without

some headsail. Unsnap the upper stay hooks of the jib and tie an

OVERHAND KNOT in the head of the sail.

2055. Bracing a drum. A drumhead is tautened by hauling down

on the leathers, one at a time. This tightens the cord which holds the

two ends of the drum together. When not in use the leathers are

slackened, so as not to stretch the head.

2056. To hitch to the side of a ladder at the end of a rung, employ

the Buoy ROPE HITCH (~7 20).

2057. A horse's tail is tied up, when sleighing in slushy snow, or

whenever the going is muddy. There are a number of ways of doing

this. Often the hair is twisted and laid up in the manner of rope;

sometimes it is platted. A good practical way is to divide the tail

and half knot the two parts, then wind the two ends tightly upward

in 0 posite directions. As the dock tapers toward the end the whole

ten ency is for the hair to slip downward. It is prevented by the

\ .
bulk of the first HALF KNOT. When the tail has been wound suffi-

ciently, half knot the two ends together, and tuck the ends of hair

under the outside turns.

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