For instance, if you were on the top of a stack and saw a part of your rigging that did not look any too safe, or you were near a band and saw your hook was only sitting on top of the stack and not inside, as it should be. A sling and the knowledge of tying knots properly is required. Practice until you are thoroughly familiar with this important part of your trade.
SQUARE KNOT
As I said before, slippery knots are bothersome in many cases. When you use the slip knot the only way to get it out is to cut the line; then you are disfiguring the line or shortening it.
The square knot and the bow-line knot are the ones most commonly used.
In tying a square knot take the ends of the rope, passing the left end over and under the right, and then take the right end and pass it over and under the left.
In trying to make the square knot there often forms what is known to line men as “the granny,” which is useless for any hazardous purpose. Follow the instructions of right over and left over and you can’t go wrong in making the best-liked knot of all—the SQUARE KNOT.
In using the square knot while working in the chair, make two half hitches in each end of the line. This is used to insure double safety.
When using the square knot for the purpose of adding more line to the riggings, tie both ends of the lines (as illustrated on [page 61]).