Q. What is a splice?
A. Splicing is putting the ends of rope together by opening the strands and placing them one into the other, or by putting the strands of the rope between those of the bight.
Q. How is an eye-splice made?
A. Unlay the end of the rope for a short distance and lay the three strands upon the standing part, so as to form an eye. Put the first end through the strand next to it. Put the second end over the strand and through the second, and then put the remaining end through the third strand on the other side of the rope. Taper them as in the short splice by dividing the strands and sticking them again. The eye-splice is used to form a permanent loop in the end of a rope. (See Fig. 48.)
Q. How do you make a short splice?
A. Unlay the strands for a convenient length; take an end in each hand, place them one within the other, and draw them close. Hold the end of one rope and the three strands from the other in the left hand; if the rope is large, stop them down to it with a rope yarn. Take the middle strand, which is free, pass it over the strand which is first next to it, then through under the second and out between the second and third from it, and then haul it taut. Pass each of the six strands in the same manner, first those of one end and then those of another. The same operation may be repeated with each strand, passing each over the third strand from it, under the fourth and through; or, as is more usual, after the ends have been stuck once untwist each strand, divide the yarns, pass one half as above described, and cut off the other half. This tapers the splice. (See Figs. 45 and 46.)
Q. How do you make a long splice?
A. Unlay the ends of two ropes to a distance three or four times greater than for a short splice, and place them within one another as for a short splice. Unlay one strand for a considerable distance and fill up the interval which it leaves with the opposite strand from the other rope. Twist the ends of these two together, then do the same with two more strands. The two remaining strands are twisted together in the place where they were first crossed. Open the two last-named strands, divide in two, take an overhand knot with the opposite halves, and lead the ends over the next strand and through the second as the whole strands were passed for the short splice. Cut off the other two halves. Do the same with the others that are placed together, dividing, knotting, and passing them in the same manner. Before cutting off any of the half-strands, the rope should be well gotten upon a stretch. Sometimes the whole strands are knotted, then divided, and the half-strands passed as above described. This splice does not increase the diameter of the rope, and it is used for splicing a fall or other rope that runs through blocks. (See Fig. 45.)
RIGGING-TACKLES.
Q. What is a tackle?