of three kinds: Ropes are made

The rope commonly used on shipboard is Hemp, tarred and untarred, Manila and Wire. also of flax and cotton, but these are not suitable for use at sea.

Full particulars as to rope of all types used in the United States Navy are given in tables in the Appendix, which tables should be consulted in connection with this Chapter.

Much confusion results from the common practice of designating all ropes made from vegetable fibre, as "hemp." This mistake is almost universally made by other than sea-faring people in referring to manila, which is sometimes called "manila hemp," but oftener simply "hemp."

Hemp rope is made of fibres from the stalk of the hemp plant, which is cultivated extensively in many parts of the world, but especially in Italy, Russia and the United States. American hemp is very generally used for cordage in the United States.

Manila rope is made from the fibre of the "abaca," or wild banana, and comes principally from the Philippine Archipelago. As has been noted above, it is commonly designated as "Manila hemp." It has to a great extent displaced the true hemp for general purposes, especially on shipboard.

How wide is the difference between Manila fibre and true Hemp is indicated on Plate 14, where both the plants and the fibres are contrasted. In spite of this difference and of all that can be said in favor of a more correct nomenclature, Manila rope will doubtless continue to be called "Manila Hemp," but it is desirable that sea-faring men should know the difference, even though they may find it convenient to fall in with the commercial practice of ignoring the distinction.

Rope is sometimes made of Coir ("Kyar"), the fibre of cocoanut husks. This rope is light and permanently buoyant ; that is to say, it does not become water-logged. It is thus well suited for running lines over water, and while only about half as

of three kinds: Ropes are made

The rope commonly used on shipboard is Hemp, tarred and untarred, Manila and Wire. also of flax and cotton, but these are not suitable for use at sea.

Full particulars as to rope of all types used in the United States Navy are given in tables in the Appendix, which tables should be consulted in connection with this Chapter.

Much confusion results from the common practice of designating all ropes made from vegetable fibre, as "hemp." This mistake is almost universally made by other than sea-faring people in referring to manila, which is sometimes called "manila hemp,” but oftener simply "hemp.'

Hemp rope is made of fibres from the stalk of the hemp plant, which is cultivated extensively in many parts of the world, but especially in Italy, Russia and the United States. American hemp is very generally used for cordage in the United States.

Manila rope is made from the fibre of the "abaca," or wild banana, and comes principally from the Philippine Archipelago. As has been noted above, it is commonly designated as "Manila hemp." It has to a great extent displaced the true hemp for general purposes, especially on shipboard.

How wide is the difference between Manila fibre and true Hemp is indicated on Plate 14, where both the plants and the fibres are contrasted. In spite of this difference and of all that can be said in favor of a more correct nomenclature, Manila rope will doubtless continue to be called "Manila Hemp," but it is desirable that sea-faring men should know the difference, even though they may find it convenient to fall in with the commercial practice of ignoring the distinction.

Rope is sometimes made of Coir ("Kyar"), the fibre of cocoanut husks. This rope is light and permanently buoyant ; that is to say, it does not become water-logged. It is thus well suited for running lines over water, and while only about half as