The fisherman's knot is used for joining two fine lines such as fishing leaders. It is simply two overhand knots, one holding the right-hand line, and the other the left-hand line. Pull each of the two overhand knots taut separately. Then make the whole knot taut so the two overhand knots come together by pulling on the standing parts of each line.

It's basically two half hitches. It has the same advantage. Pulling the knot back along the line it goes around can be used to make the line taut. It's good for tent lines too."

This knot is used to shorten a rope that is fastened at both ends. Take up the slack, then make an underhand loop and slide it over the blight and pull tight. Do the same to the other end to complete the knot. The sheepshank is only a temporary knot as it stands. But it can be made more permanent by adding a second half hitch to each end.

The surgeon's knot is a square knot with an extra twist. The purpose of this knot is to give added friction to hold until the second crossing is made.

You can loosen the square knot easily by either pushing the ends toward the knot or by "upsetting" the knot by pulling back on one end and pulling the other through the loops.

The double sheet bend, like the sheet bend is used to fasten a small line to a larger one. In the illustration the light colored line would be the smaller and the darker one would be the larger. A double sheet bend may be employed when a sheet bend may not have enough friction to hold well.

This is a reliable and useful knot for attaching a rope to a pole or boat mooring. As its name suggests, it is two half hitches, one after the other. To finish, push them together and snug them by pulling on the standing part.