HAND LOGGING AND ANIMAL SNAKING 153 



Grabs. — These are of several forms. The common skidding 

 grab (Fig. 30, c) consists of two hooks each one of which is at- 

 tached to a short f -inch chain which in turn is fastened to a ring 

 made of the same size material. The hooks are driven into the 

 wood on either side of the forward end of the log and grip it in a 

 manner similar to a pair of tongs. The grab ring is attached 

 directly to the spreader by means of a hook. The Morris patent 

 skidding grab (Fig. 30, d) consists of a chain having a large ring at 

 each end. The grab hooks are attached to the chain by narrow- 

 throated links which may be set at any point in order to make the 

 distance between grabs conform to the size of the log. The draft 



A 



GRAB SKIPPER 



v 



GRAB MAUL 



Fig. 32. — ^ A Type of Grab Skipper and a Grab Maul used on a West 

 Virginia Logging Operation, 



power is attached to another narrow-throated ring which can be 

 placed midway between the grabs and thus equalize the power. 

 On steep slopes where logs are apt to run, a form of grab shown 

 in Fig. 30, e is used. The spreader ring is attached to the "J" 

 hook and when logs gain too great headway and threaten to run 

 into the horses, the latter may be turned to one side, whereupon 

 the tow of logs is uncoupled automatically. Grabs are also used 

 to couple logs together in turns for transportation down skidding 

 roads. There are several different patterns, including two forms 

 of double grabs or couplers (Fig. 30,/ and g) used for the forward 

 logs where the strain is greatest, and a single grab or coupler 

 (Fig. 30, h), for the rear logs. 



A metal-banded wooden maul or a sledge hammer is used for 

 driving grabs and a pointed sledge hammer, called a "skipper," 

 for removing them. 



