During the 19th century two art forms,
which belonged to the
sailor developed: scrimshaw,
which was the carving and engraving
of
whalebone and ivory was peculiar to the whaling fleet,
and marlinspike
seamanship,
which belonged to all deep water sailors including sailors.
The latter is a knowledge of rope and canvas
for either fancy
or functional uses. It can be
anything from tying a square knot to making a
sea chest
becket. Or it can be anything from sewing a patch on a sail
to
making a wall bag. All my work is done by hand the same
way with the same
basic tools as it would have been
done aboard any ship in the 19th
century.
James F. Keating
The Marlinspike Sailor
of
Marblehead