Fig. 413.—Leather girth strap with clutch hook.
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857.—Girth Tapes, similar to measuring tapes, [Fig. 349], p. 506, are occasionally used, but these are more convenient for felled timber. Tapes for the purpose are made from ¾ inch to 1 inch wide, and 6, 12, and 24 feet long. They have the ordinary feet and inches on one side and quarter-girths on the other.
It is customary to allow 1 or 1½ inches, and sometimes more for bark, according to the species of tree and the custom of the country.
858.—Marking off Timber.—For this a special tool with a gouge point, Fig. 414, and strong buck-horn handle, termed a timber-marker, is used for standing timber intended to be felled. The contents of the tree are sometimes marked with the marker upon it if for sale, good bark allowance being made in cases of difficulty of extraction from the forest, etc. A plain knife is usually put with the marker, which is useful as a food knife.
Fig. 414.—Timber marker, nearly full size.
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859.—The author makes a very small, neat surveyor's knife, with marker, for the waistcoat pocket, Fig. 415, which combines—M tree marker (small); S screw-driver for small screws of instruments; P tommy-pin for turning capstan heads; F file for sharpening lead of pencil, when this is used for the field-book; and E R two penknife blades. The knife is similar to the author's architect's knife, which is well known. The tree marker is not strong enough for constant work.
