LOGGING IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION, 91 



Butt chcdns and hutt hooks. — A butt chain or line (fig. 23) is a 

 short connection by which the chokers are attached to tlie main 

 3^arding line. It consists of the main connecting link, either a heavy 

 steel chain with short links or a wire rope with eyes spliced in each 

 end, with a hook or clevis on the end which is attached to the main 

 line and a swivel, a link, and a butt hook on the other. The swivel 

 in the connection allows the log to roll when being pulled in without 

 twisting the main line. Butt chains are made in different weights, 

 depending upon the personal ideas of the operator and the condi- 

 tions of the chance. They range from 5 to 8 feet in length. Whore 

 they are constructed of wire rope, sockets instead of splices may be 

 used. 



Besides the plain heavy butt hook there are a number of patented 

 ones which are so constructed that the socket on the choker is locked 

 in place and can not come out, as often happens with open hooks. 

 This is an advantage which well repays for the extra cost. 



Although not actually a part of the butt chain, the trip-line con- 

 nection is usually considered as a part. It is attached to the same 

 clevis as the butt chain by means of a link, a swivel, and another 

 clevis. A hook may be used instead of a second clevis. 



A butt chain without the hook costs about $13 and weighs about 

 128 pounds.. Tag lines are considerably lighter. Butt hooks ordi- 

 narily used cost from $6 to $15. Clevises cost from $2.50 to $3.50. 

 Figure 26 shows one type of rigging plate which is used where two 

 butt cliains are used on connection with tag lines. This plate with- 

 out clevises costs about $4. The fixed investment in butt chains, butt 

 hooks, and clevises used in connection with one yarding engine 

 amounts to about $100. 



Chokers. — A choker (figs. 24 and 25) is a piece of wire rope which 

 may be set on a log in such a way as to form a noose. There are two 

 distinct forms, the flat-hook choker and the type with the hook 

 running loose on the line. The flat-hook type consists of a piece of 

 wire rope with an eye in one end and a flat hook attached to the other. 

 The line is passed around the log and the flat hook is hooked over 

 the line, making a noose. The other type consists of a piece of wire 

 rope with eyes spliced in each end and a hook which runs loose on the 

 line. The hook is slid along until it will hook into the end of the 

 line, thus forming a noose. On rough ground this type does not 

 come loose so quickly as the flat hook. The flat hook is easier to 

 handle. The flat hook works better in high-lead yarding than in 

 ground yarding, the tension on the line being more even. Forged- 

 steel sockets are used to a great extent on the ends of the choker 

 instead of spliced eyes, as they save time and some feet of line and 

 are more durable. There are many styles of both flat and running 

 hooks used. 



