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to be used in making “‘ships’ knees.” These are the parts of a 
boat where the deck beams are fastened to the ribs of the hull, 
and, again, where the keel is attached to the ribs. This idea 
seemed plausible enough until it was noticed that the bent trees 
along the state road to Gay Head were on the north side almost 
exclusively. If they had been bent to produce “‘ships’ knees” 
they could have been grown on either side of the road equally 
well or in wide groups rather than in rows so often parallel to 
the road. 
It was not until we consulted an all-year-round resident of 
the island that we learned the true history of these trees. They 
are the remains of the old “‘lop fences” which he had seen his 
grandfather make. These fences were to mark ownership of 
cleared land or woodlot or to keep sheep in a pasture. This latter 
use accounts for the fact that in a large majority of these trees 
the transverse portions are between twenty and forty inches 
from the ground. But in some cases the cross bars are almost 
hidden in the ground and in others they are shoulder high. Very 
few of the fences stand now as they did originally, for individual 
trees have grown larger and others have rotted to the ground or 
disappeared entirely, leaving wide gaps. | 
The height at which the cross bars were made probably 
varied with each fence builder, because these trees found near 
together usually have the bars at the same height. The trans- 
verse bar was made by cutting a notch in a sapling at the proper 
height and bending it over to the ground or fastening it down 
with a weight or rope. Some of these first notches were cut S0 
deeply that the tree was never able to heal the wound and the 
splinters stick out like broken bones through flesh. 
Branches from the transverse bar would sometimes grow UP 
straight to form the new main trunk of the tree. If this was not 
likely to occur, a second notch and bend would be made in order 
that the original main trunk could again fulfill its duty of reach- 
ing skyward. So many scrub oaks in their natural condition have 
branches coming out at right angles fairly near the ground, that 
it is probable that in some cases where trees were to be used a 
fences, the main trunk was cut off entirely in order that a sturdy 
branch at right angles could take its place. In a few cases the 
branches on both sides of the main trunk were utilized as bars, 
giving an appearance of a candelabrum. However, most of the 
