[1131]. Bowline on a bight, [Fig. 31]. The first part is made like the above, with the double part of a rope; then the bight a is pulled through sufficiently to allow it to be bent past d and come up in the position shown. It makes a more comfortable sling for a man than a single bight.
Fig. 32
Sheep shank
[1132]. Sheep shank, [Fig. 32], used for shortening a rope or to pass by a weak spot; a half hitch is taken with the standing parts around the bights.
[1133]. Short splice. To make a short splice, [Figs. 33], [34], [35], unlay the strands of each rope for a convenient length. Bring the rope ends together so that each strand of one rope lies between the two consecutive strands of the other rope. Draw the strands of the first rope along the second and grasp with one hand. Then work a free strand of the second rope over the nearest strand of the first rope and under the second strand, working in a direction opposite to the twist of the rope. The same operation applied to all the strands will give the result shown by [Fig. 34]. The splicing may be continued in the same manner to any extent ([Fig. 35]) and the free ends of the strands may be cut off when desired. The splice may be neatly tapered by cutting out a few fibers from each strand each time it is passed through the rope. Rolling under a board or the foot will make the splice compact.
Plate IV