Page 444 - The Ashley Book of Knots

LONG AND SHORT SPLICES (MULTI-STRAND BENDS)

correspond, and then snake the middle whipping in the same way as

the ends.

2679. Splicing a chain cable to a hemp one. This splice was de-

scribed by Nicholas Tinmouth in 1845. No stronger method of

bending chain to hemp has since been discovered. Three chain tails

of sixty-five links each, made tapering, were shackled to the large 619

end link of a large chain cable. A further tapered ten-foot hemp tail

was spliced to the end link of each chain tail (~2 858). One or two

strands from a large hemp hawser were laid along each of the chain

tails, the yarns completely covering it, and these were served over

first with spun yarn and after that, were parceled and served a sec-

ond time with marline.

The chain tails were next laid up tightly into three-strand rope

and the hemp cable and chain cable were short spliced to each other

in the usual way-three full tucks. Five seizings were put over the

splice, the center seizing two inches wide, and the end and quarter 2b80

Jeizings one and a half inches wide. The tails of the chain cable were

next wormed along the hemp cable and secured with two flat seiz-

ings, which were snaked.

The first chain cable for ship use is said to have been made in Eng-

land about 1812. Previous to that hemp cables were used exclusively.

For ships of the line they were sometimes as large as thirty inches In

circumference.

The first flexible wire hawser appeared on shipboard about 1875.

Specimens of wire rope have been found in the ruins of Pompeii.

\Vire rope was rediscovered about 183 1 by a man named Clausthal,

and at first was used only in mining operations. Wire standing rig-

ging came into use with the advent of the clipper ships in the 1850s.

2680. A TWO-STRAND SHORT SPLICE (marline). Tuck three times

full and roll underfoot. If very soft-laid, tuck each strand four times.

Structurally a section of this splice is the same as a FOUR-STRAND

ROUND SINNET.

Marline is left-handed so it is spliced the opposite of right-laid

2.681

rope.

2681. A TWO-STRAND BACKHANDED SPLICE. Open and tie a TRIPLE

OVERHAND KNOT in each pair of strands. Tighten strongly by pulling

alternately at the two pairs of ends. The direction of the knots must

he contrary to the lay of the marline. Roll underfoot 'When tight.

2682. An INVISIBLE SPLICE for knitting yam was shown to me by

S. R. Ashley. Make the splice when the end is about to disappear

into the knitted or crocheted object. Divide and crotch the two ends

of yam and twist the legs around outside the am in the same direc-

2.682.

tion as the lay at both ends. Do not twist the ody of the yam itself.

Hold with the fingers while knittin it into the material and

straighten with a needle if necessary. he splice will not be evident

in the finished garment and does not tend to loosen. Do not cut off

the ends, if in evidence, but tease them out.

2683. A SINGLE-TUCK SPLICE for twine, cord, yarn, marline, etc.

Split one end into two parts and leave the other end unopened. Lay

the tip of the large single end into the crotch of the split end and, 2683

beginning at that end, plat a very tight three-strand braid for

a considerable distance (twice as long as for an ordinary splice).

Unless the platting is very firm the splice will not hold. When the

two ends are about exhausted stick one of them through the center

of the unopened yam. Wax and rub well with the fingers or else roll

underfoot.

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