116

NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND  NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE

Crown
Fig. §.

/The anchor stock must be equal to one-fourth the specified weight
of the anchor. It will be noted that this brings the weight of the
anchor with stock up to approximately the same as the stockless anchor.
The stock is to help the anchor to bite and get a good hold of the ground.
Should the anchor fall with its arms flat, the stock will be upright, and
as soon as any weight comes on the cable, the stock being heavy and
longer than the arms, it will turn the anchor. This is the best holding
type of anchor and the longer the shank the better it holds; it is, however,
awkward to handle and stow on the forecastle-head.
Stockless Anchors.—Figure 3 shows a Lenox unchokeable stock-
less anchor; this type of patent anchor is now universally adopted
in modern steamships. It consists of a heavy head having arms and
flukes generally forged in one piece with it, also a shank and shackle.
The head is made to turn on an axis perpendicular to the shank,
the arms moving in a plane parallel to the shank, being in line with it
when in the closed position.
It is so constructed that the head will turn on its axis and the arms
will open out to an angle of 45° with the shank, but no further.
The head must weigh not less than three-fifths of the total weight
of the anchor.