the middle of the yards, to which the outer half of the heads of the sails are laced; inside by light double whips called the inner halyards, which are led from the fore top rims to the inner corners of the head, and at the foot outside, by the tacks. These ropes are led from the after part of the gangways through blocks on the lower boom ends, and bent to the lower outer clue. The inner corners are spread by the sheets. They are taken in by the tripping lines, which are ropes led from the deck on each side, abaft the fore-yard, through blocks at the top rims; then through leading blocks at the inner arms of the studding-sail yards, and bent to the tacks of the sails. The Fore top-mast stud-sails are spread at the head by halyards, which are rove from the deck through lubbers' hole through the span blocks at the top-mast cap before the yard, through the jewel block at the yard-arms, and bent to a yard to which the head of the sail is laced. At the foot they are spread outside by tacks; which are led from the main rigging through tack blocks on the boom ends, and bent to the outer clue. The inner corners are spread by the sheets; one being led from the deck, and the other from the top, passing under the heel of the boom. They are taken in by downhauls, which are led from the deck before or abaft the boom, according to circumstances, through blocks on the tacks of the sails, through cringles on the leech, and bent to the outer arms of the studding-sail yards. The Fore top-mast stud booms are supported by topping lifts, which lead from the fore-top through the lower sheaves of the fiddle blocks to the boom ends, and also by braces which lead from the main rigging. The Main top-mast stud-sail is set in like manner, the tack being led aft to the quarter. The Top-gallant studding sails are spread at the head by the halyards, which are led from the deck through lubbers' hole through the span blocks on the top-gallant mast head, passed before the yard through the jewel blocks on the top-gallant yardarms, and bent to a yard to which the heads of the sails are laced. At the foot outside they are spread by the tacks, which are led from the after part of the tops, under the topsail braces, through blocks at the top-gallant stud boom ends, and bent to the outer lower clue; and at the inner by the sheets which are led over the topsail yard to the top. They are taken in by a line from the top, which is bent to the inner arms of their yards. The Top-mast stud booms are rigged in and out by a jigger led along the lower yard. When the booms are out, they are secured by a heel lashing to the quarter iron. Main top stud booms have no topping lift. Tack and lower halyard blocks on top-mast stud booms are generally single stropped, and are thus very unyielding; the tack one especially so whilst hauling the sail down, thereby endangering the boom. They have been found to answer well when fitted with two strops, having thimble on thimble. BLACKING DOWN. When the rigging is in its place, advantage is taken of a warm day to rub it down with a mixture of two parts of vegetable to one of mineral tar. The thinner, or rather the hotter it is, the better. If not prevented, petty officers will always send their fags about this work; and as such men are not aware of the consequences of hot weather, they use an unnecessary quantity, to the ultimate injury of decks, awnings, and white clothing. “Tar is obtained by smouldering the heart-wood of the pine in stacks, nearly as in making charcoal, and collecting the sap in trenches. It is refined by heating it in an iron vessel to drain off the water and pyroligneous acid; and after a while pouring off the purer part, leaving the earthy residue. "Pitch is made by boiling down tar, either by itself or with resin. 66 Turpentine is the first running from resinous trees, such as pine; resin is the residue after obtaining spirits of turpentine by distillation from the raw produce."* *U. S. Ordnance Manual. Unlay, and place the ends of the strands as in the sketch; hold the strands A D C (fig. 96.) and the end of the rope B fast in the left hand, or, if the rope be large, stop them down to it with a rope yarn then take the middle end 1, pass it over the strand A and under c. Perform the same operation with the other ends, by passing them over the first next to them, and through under the second, on both sides, when the splice will appear thus : Fig. 97. Repeat the operation, passing the ends over the third and under fourth; whip them and trim them off. AN EYE SPLICE. Open the strands, put the end н through the strand next to it; pass I over the same strand and through the second; and the end K through the third on the other side. (Fig. 98.) A LONG SPLICE. (Fig. 99.) Unlay the ends for some distance and place them as for a short splice. Unlay one strand (as 4.) for a considerable length, and replace it with its opposite one, 3. Then unlay 2, and replace it with 1. The middle strands, 5 and 6 are split; an overhand knot is made in the two opposite halves, and the Fig. 98. ends led over the next strand and through the second, as the whole strands were in the short splice; the other two halves are cut off. The strands 3 and 4, and 2 and 1 are similarly disposed of. |