Page 45 - The Knot Bible

Ossel hitch
KNOT SCORE
Another knot much-favoured by fi shermen – this time the Scottish seine Strength
netters. The ossel hitch was used to suspend driftnets in the sea. As such, Security
it had to cope with a great deal of underwater movement, without coming Diffi culty Tying
Diffi culty Untying
undone. It also had to be tied quickly, as there were hundreds of these tied
Usefulness
to each net. The ossel hitch answered the cause.

1 Pass the working end around the 2 Take a turn, and pass the working 3 Take another turn around the
mooring point – in the case of a end around the standing part and anchoring point, but this time going
seine netter, this would be the fl oat back on itself. the other way.
line (see Knot Know-How, below).

KNOT KNOW-HOW

An ‘ossel’ is the length of line that
connects a gill net to its fl oat line,
so that the net can hang at a certain
distance below the surface of the sea.
The word is thought to be a regional
variation of ‘norsel’. The ossel hitch is
therefore useful in any situation where
a small line is being attached to a
larger line.

4 Pass the working end back over
itself and under the original turn.
Tighten the knot.

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