Knots, Hitches, and Splices 



1427 



Fig. ioi 



Fig. 102 



Calspaw 



^Form a bight in the rope, grasp the sides of the bight, as shown in Fig. 



IOI, thus forming two loops, twist each loop a full turn in the direction 



indicated by the arrows, and hang „ 



the loops on the hook (Fig. 102). 



Sheepshank. — This hitch, used for || 



shortening a rope, is made quickly 



and without access to the ends. It 



may be tied in a rope and the rope 



may then be cut at the end of one of 



the two bights or along the central 



part in Fig. 106, after which a strain 



may safely be put on the rope just 



as if it were not cut . It is said that this 



fact is utilized by steeple climbers, 



who, before lowering themselves by 



ropes from towers where they have 



been at work, make a sheepshank 



near the upper end of the rope, cut it 



as described above, lower themselves 



to the ground, and then loosen the 



sheepshaiik by shaking it, when the cut rope falls to the ground leaving 



only a short end up on the tower. 



Form a bight and lay it against the rope, leaving below it a second 



bight or loop 

 as long as is 

 needful for re- 

 ducing the rope 

 to the required 

 length (see Fig. 

 103). Holding 

 the first bight 

 with the right 

 hand, with the 

 left hand throw 

 a half hitch 

 around it as 

 indicated by 

 the arrow jin 

 Fig. 103 and as 

 shown in Fig. 



104. With the left hand grasp the sides of the second bight and with the 



right hand throw a half hitch of the rope over this bight by turning 



Fig. 103 



Fig. 104 



Sheepshank begun 



Fig. 105 



