[Fig. 42.] Sheep-shank with ends whipped is the same as in a plain Sheep-shank except the loop is whipped to the standing part of the rope. This makes the shortening as secure as those shown in [Fig. 38], and [Fig. 39].
[Fig. 43.] Bow-shortening is an ordinary knot in the middle of a rope in which a double bend has previously been made. It is not adapted to heavy ropes nor will it stand a heavy strain successfully.
SPLICES
In the use of ropes, occasion arises, many times, where it is necessary to join two ends together in such a way that the union is as strong as the rest of the rope and still not too large or irregular to pass through a hole or pulley block. Knots are unsuitable in that they will not pass through a block; they are unsightly, and usually are not as strong as the rest of the rope. The method of joining ropes to meet the above requirements is called splicing. There are two general types of rope splices known as the short splice and the long splice. Other applications of the former are made in the eye splice and the cut splice. The long splice is almost always used in splicing wire rope which runs through a block or over a sheave.