Page 371 - The Ashley Book of Knots

THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS

under one or, if doubled, over two and under two. A small knot IS

first tied and thereafter, either by adding further diagonals or else

by platting the loops and ends of one side, the size of the knot is

increased. In the fonner the proportions are unchanged, and in the

224.2. latter the knot is lengthened. When the knot that was decided on

has been made, its size may be further increased by doubling or

tripling the established lay or ply in the manner that was described

for the TURK'S-HEADS of Chapter 18.

2242. The PROLONG KNOT was so named because its length may be

added to-that is, it may be prolonged. Boyd (A Manual for Naval

Cadets, 1857) first called attention to it by name. But Luce, a few

years later, pictured only the simplest form of the completed knot,

which is the first diagram given on this page, and failed to mention

either the method of tying and enlarging or the purpose of the knot.

Furthermore he misspelled the name, calling it PROLONGE, which is

the name of a rope used by the field artillery. C. H. Smith called it

"PRoLONGED KNOT" in 1876, which appears to be a common name

for it.

In the braid trade the form of the upper right diagram has been

termed the "PRETZEL" KNOT, and under the name "AUSTRIAN" KNOT

the same form has been employed as an officer's insignia in the

United States Marine Corps.

The PROLONG is a common mat for stair treads on shipboard. It is

loosely formed, as in the first diagram, in regular over-one-and-

under-one sequence, then the ends and two lower bights are loosened

and extended, after which the six strands are platted as FRENCH SIN-

NET, each of the loops or bights serving as two strands. Each time the

two ends have been led to the corners a knot is completed. The first

completed knot has four side bights and the second time the ends

are crossed the knot is increased to seven bights on each side. The

smallest number of side bights in a completed PROLONG is four and

each enlargement adds three more.

2242 To double or triple the ply of this knot: Lead either leg back into

the knot parallel with and in contrary direction to the lead of the

other leg. The method is shown in the fifth and sixth diagrams on the

page. The ends should not be left permanently near the rim but

should be withdrawn into the central structure, sewed down or

seized on the underside.

2243. The OCEAN PLAT is a companion knot that is commenced

with an OVERHAND KNOT. The central bight should be hung over a

convenient nail or hook and the two ends and two bights extended

as in the previous knot. When this has been done the knot is platted

as before. The smallest number of side bights in this knot is three

and each enlargement adds three more bights. With these two starts

(~2242 and ~2243) every possible number of bights for knots of

this width is tied. Five, eight, eleven bights, etc., are impossible

knots to tie with a single strand, two or more cords being required

for them.