202 



KNOTS, SPLICES, AND BENDS. 



originated at a very remote period, far beyond the reach of 

 history. 



An Eye-Splice. A loop or eye on the end of a rope is 

 made by untwisting three or four inches of the line or rope, 

 and having opened the twist or lay with a marline-spike, 

 pricker, or stiletto (best adapted to fishing-line), inserting 

 the middle strand first and then the others successively in 

 the openings to be made between the strands. This being 

 repeated, the ends are to be drawn tight, the splice to be 

 beaten or rolled on the floo'r, and the ends cut off not quite 

 close until the splice has taken some strain in use, after which 

 it will never draw. 



FIG. 58. 

 a, Eye-Splice commenced ; b, Short Two-strand Splice ; c, Anchor scowed. 



An eye-splice with a line or two strands is even more simple 

 than the above, and is formed by merely crossing the ends 

 through the openings in the strands. 



The commencement of an eye-splice with the ends once 

 through is shown (fig. 580). 



A Short Splice with a Two-strand Line (fig. 58 b). Very 

 useful in joining the two-strand snooding Mackerel-lines, and 

 formed by untwisting a couple of inches of each end and inter- 

 locking them with each other, after which the strands are to be 

 opened, and the ends of each to be crossed three times in the 

 apertures. 



Crowning or Scowing the Anchor (fig. 58 c). An excellent 

 plan where the bottom is doubtful or known to consist of sand 



