By whose definition of “half hitch”?
Ashley defines this to be a minimal noose or timber hitch, depending on your PoView
or orientation of the end. But for the Clove, what is opposed, esp. if the Clove is taken
qua binder (ends slack after setting), are Single Hitches.
I’m happy though to dispense with old confused nomenclature in bringing in consistent
use of “noose” where applicable–i.e., where all of the knotting is done around “its
own part”, around the knotted rope (regardless of whether the knot is intended to serve
in the traditional noose sense of sliding–though one might try to discriminate cases
in which this is NOT intended with " noose hitch ".
I’ve been merrily thinking of the “single hitch” structure as a half-hitch, and seeing thus
a lot of “half-hitching” in commercial fisher knotting–the paradigm of which might be
the Groundline H. structure employed as a “seizing hitch” (my term), ends coming
into the knot from either side (or being untensioned, as a miller’s / bag knot).
The Clove is much used in ComFishKnotting. In this photo by Bill Prosser (interested in it
for art’s not knotting’s sake, but the interests can be merged (or be in the beholder’s eye!)),
one sees a curious thing: like metal structures are tied to in three places in the course of
securing a single lobster pot (those cages) to the buoy line; but while two are Clove hitches
w/tucked-secured ends, the third–nearest buoy–is an eyeknot, which looks to be a bowline
w/Oh. stopper securing, but in one case maybe a Honda knot!? I wonder why … ?! (for
the Cloves should be as secure, arguably stronger (irrelevant), better re chafe (more so!),
and pretty easily untied (backing out a tuck isn’t difficult, and a tucked end should prevent
the Clove from too tightly binding).
–dl*
ps: Spydey, y’all south’ners climbing them orange trees to send fruit up north?!
–been much missing my Florida navels these past too-soon-after-hurricanes winters!