This superb book is an encyclopedia of all sorts of knots. Approximately 3900 knots are illustrated. Some history is provided. Illustrations are good and quite helpful. More then half of the knots seem to be related to marine situations. The author, born in the 1800s in a whaling community, spent over 40 years associated with all things marine and took 11 years to produce this invaluable work.
Some of the knots are associated with symbols. This one, the reef or square knot, taught in all basic sailing classes (much to my dismay as I think it’s a horrible knot) is marked by skull and cross bones. Ashley states “…employed as a bend the reef knot is probably responsible for more deaths and injuries than have been caused by the failure of all other knots combined.”