WIRE SPLICING eously, to keep the rope in its original lay. For a fair-sized rope unlay about 9 ft. of each end. Proceed as in rope splicing, and after the three pairs of strands are in their places, single them, and continue to unlay and lay-in until the six meeting places of the strands are equidistant. To finish o££ the ends properly can only be learnt by observation and actual practice. By using two marline-spikes, the hempen heart is removed and the ends of the wire strands forced into the place it occupied making a very neat job when finished Wire splices should be parcelled with oily canvas and served with Hanibro' line Splicing Thimbles—Under and Over Style.—Ordinary type of wire rope. Serve the rope with wire or tarred yarn to suit the circumference Fig. 62, Fig 63. of the thimble, bend round thimble and tie securely in place with temporary lashing till splice is finished (as in Fig. 62). Open out the strands taking care to keep the loose end of the rope to the left hand (see Fig. 63). Now insert marline-spike, lifting two strands as shown in Fig. 64, and tuck away towards the right hand (that is inserting the strand at the point, and over the spike) strand No. 1, pulling the strand well home, Next insert marline-spike thrQUgh next strand to the left, only lifting one strand, the point of the spike corning out at the same place as before. Tuck away strand No. 2 as before. The next tuck is the locking tuck. Insert marline-spike in next strand^ and, missing No. 3* tuck away strand NQ. 4 from the point pf