HAND-MADE CORDAGE.—In those establishments where the manufacture of ropes is still carried on by hand, the first operation is " hackling." A certain quantity of hemp is weighed to the heckler, and given proportions of this arc combed out at one operation. The hackle or heckle consists of a number of steel pins vertically inserted in a board with their points upward. The fineness of these pins depends upon the character of the work. The operation of hackling differs little from that described in Linen Manufactures (p. 1244), detailing the treatruent of flax. Each hackled portion is tied into a bundle, technically called a "strick of hemp." This is then passed to tbe spinner for making into yarn. The spinning process is conducted in a long covered walk, termed the " rope walk," which is furnished with the simple means necessary for the conduct of the different opera tions. The principle end of this walk is usually called the " head" or " fore-end," and the opposite extremity, the " foot " or " back-end." At one end is a spinning-machine, consisting principally of a large wheel, which, by band, friction, or teeth (all are employed), drives a nurnber of small pulleys or " whorls," each carrying a small hook on its axle, that, by the turning of the large wheel, receives a rapid rotary motion. A boy generally turns the wheel, and as many spinners can work from one wheel as there are small whorls driven by its revolution. The spinner, after fastening the strick of hemp round bis body, draws out from the front of the bundle the quantity of fibres required to form the size or thickness of the yarn it is desired to ma.ke. Bending these fibres in the middle, he passes the bight upon the revolving hook, which instantly twists them, the spinner, at the same moment, beginning to walk backward, and passing more fibres to those which are already being twined. This is done continuously and °artfully so as to maintain the evenness and continuity of the thread. In his right hand, the spinner carries a thick piece of woollen cloth, a portion of which he allows to fall over the fore-finger, and with which he grasps the fibres as they are drawn out, and presses them firmly between his two middle fingers. As he steps backward, the driving-wheel continuing its revolution, with his left hand he draws out and regulates the supply of fibre, so as to ensure the yarn being of equal thickness throughout its length. The " walk " may be 200 yd. upwards in length, and the spinner, as the yaru lengthens in his hands, passes it over bearers attached to pillars or the walls of the enclosure. When the length of yarn is completed, it is either passed to one side upon the bearers to await a finishing process, or is wound upon a reel and put aside until wanted.
If it is intended that the ropes shall be tarred, this process takes place at this stage. A number of yarns, 200-300, are laid together in parallel order, and passed through a boiler of hot tar. As they became saturated, the bundle of yarns is drawn through a hole, called a " grip," which has the effect of pressing the tar into the yarn, and removing the superfluous portion.
Tarred ropes are more durable than nntarred ones, owing to increased power of resisting the decompneing action of water in the alternate immersions or saturations and dryings to which ropes are often subjected in use.
Tho next operation is the " twisting" of the yarn, whether tarred or untarred, ioto strands. 'tope-wake are ueually divided into parts, each fitted with appropriate machinery: the spinning walk, with its avheels, and the twisting- or laying-walk (sometimes combined in one, sometimes separate, according ae the work may be light or heavy), each having its tackle-boards and sledges. At the head of the walk, two etout pie,cee of timber are inserted vertically in the ground. Across these, is bolted a etrong board, which contains three holes corresponding to the number of strands in a rope. This forms the tackle-board. The three holes _are in a horizontal line, and are for the reception of winches or forelock-hooks. The proper number of yarns to form the strand having been affixed to these hooks, the opposite extremities are attached to corresponding forelock-hooke in the breast-board of the sledge, a strongly-built frame of wood, constructed so its to be easily loaded with weighta according to requirement, and furnished with twisting-hooka similar to those of the tackle-board. The sledge being drawn back, so as to bring the yarn into a tense condition, twieting is commenced both at the forelock-hooks and those of the sledge, the twist of course being in opposite directions. The contraction in length which ensuea drags the sledge in towerds the fore-end of the walk. When sufficient " hard," as twist is technically called, has been given to tho strands, the twisting is complete. The three strands are then attached to the middle hook of the tackle-bourd, and each strand is laid into one of three grooves of a cone-shaped pit ee of wood, called a "tip," and which will come under notice subsequently. These strands are next twisted together, the " top" receding from the twieting-hook as the rope is formed. This process is celled " laying" or " first lay," and consists in combining three etrands into a rope, the rope thus made being termed " hawser-laid." In this forru, the strands ere allotted a sufficient number of threads to give tho required thickness to the rope. There is another combination, called the "shroud hawser-laid " rope, or " eecond lay," in which four strands are twisted round a core-piece placed in the centre to impart greater solidity to the rope. There is also the " third lay," or "cable-laid" rope, in which three ropes, as formed by the first-named process, are twisted or laid together to constitute a cable : a stout strong article formerly in extensive use for ship's purposes, but now mostly suponualed by chain cables.