wet or frozen, it loses little strength. Additionally, nylon line defies mildew, rotting, and attack by marine borers. Nylon rope can hold a load even when many strands are abraded. Normally, when abrasion is local, the rope may be restored to use by cutting away the chafed section and splicing the ends. Chafing, and stretching do not necessarily affect the load-carrying ability of nylon rope. The splicing of nylon rope is very similar to that of manila; however, friction tape is used instead of seizing stuff for whipping the strands and line. Because it is smooth and elastic, nylon requires at least one tuck more than manila. For heavy loads, a back tuck should be taken with each strand. As   with   manila,   nylon   rope   is   measured   by circumference. Nylon, as manila, usually comes on a reel  of  600  to  1,200  feet,  depending  upon  the  size.  Do not  uncoil  new  nylon  rope  by  pulling  the  ends  up through the eye of the coil. Unreel it as you would wire rope. Avoid coiling nylon in the same direction all the time, or you could unbalance the lay. When nylon rope is stretched more than 40 percent, it is likely to part. The stretch is immediately recovered with a snapbaak that sounds like a pistol shot. WARNING The snapback of  a nylon rope can be as deadly as a bullet. Make sure no one stands in the direct line of pull when a heavy strain is applied. This feature is also true for other types of lines, but overconfidence in the strength of nylon may lead one to underestimate its backlash. The critical point of loading is 40-percent extension of length; for example, a 10-foot length of nylon rope would  stretch  to  14  feet  when  under  load.  Should  the stretch exceed 40 percent, the linc will be in danger of parting. If a nylon rope becomes slippery because of grease, it should be cleaned with a light oil, such as kerosene or diesel  oil. Do not store nylon line in strong sunlight. Cover it with tarpaulins. In storage, keep it away from heat and strong chemicals. Kevlar Kevlar is most popularly used to make bulletproof vests  and  knifeproof  gloves.  The  characteristics  of Kevlar line are similar to those of Nylon line except for one   significant   difference—Kevlar   line   does   not snapback when it parts. This is an important safety feature, since parted nylon line has resulted in numerous deaths  due  to  violent  snapbacks. HANDLING AND CARE OF FIBER LINE If you expect the fiber line you work with to give safe and dependable service, make sure it is handled and cared for properly. Procedures for handling and caring of fiber line arc as follows: l CLEANLINESS is part of the care of fiber line. NEVER drag a line over the ground or over rough or dirty surfaces. The line can easily pickup sand and grit that can work into the strands and wear the fibers. If a line dots get dirty, use water only to clean it.  Do NOT use soap, because it takes oil out of the line. .  AVOID  pulling  a  line  over  sharp  edges  because the strands may break. When you have a sharp edge, place chafing gear, such as a board, folded cardboard or canvas, or part of a rubber tire, between the line and the sharp edge to prevent damaging the line. . NEVER cut a line unless you have to. When possible, always use knots that can be untied easily. Fiber line will contract or shrink if it gets wet. If there  is  not  enough  slack  in  a  wet  line  to  permit shrinkage, the line is likely to overstrain and weaken. If a taut line is exposed to rain or dampness, make sure that the line, while still dry, is slackened to allow for the shrinkage. INSPECTION OF FIBER LINE Line  should  be  inspected  carefully  at  regular intervals to determine if it is safe. The outside of a line does  not  show  the  condition  of  the  line  on  the  inside. Untwisting the strands slightly allows you to check the condition of the line on the inside. Mildewed line gives off a musty odor. Broken strands, or yarns, usually can be spotted immediately by a trained observer. You want to look carefully to ensure there is no dirt or sawdust-like materia]  inside  the  line.  Dirt  or  other  foreign  matter inside reveals possible damage to the internal structure of the line. A smaller circumference of the line is usually a sure sign that too much strain has been applied to the line. For  a  thorough  inspection,  a  line  should  be examined at several places. After all, only one weak spot, anywhere in a line, makes the entire line weak. As a final check, pull out a couple of fibers from the line and try to break them. Sound fibers have a strong 13-14