Page 60 - Barbara Merry - The Splicing Handbook

If the end of the rope has been heat-sealed, cut it off and tape it to keep it from
unlaying. Measure one full fid length from the working end of the rope and mark
this spot with an X.
Move up the rope at least five full fid lengths and tie a tight slip knot.

Return to the X and gently push aside the strands of the coat to expose its inner
core. Pull out a small loop of core through the coat as carefully as possible, and
make a single hash mark across the top of the core. Pull out the core completely
and tape its end. Confirm that the X and hash mark are aligned at equal distances
from the end.