Fife Rails and Bitts 

  The word 'bitts' originally referred to strong wooden posts which extended through two deck levels for strength, and were usually in pairs, with a heavy cross-member called a horse. They were situated immediately forward of the fore and main masts and were known asjeer Gear) bitts, the jeers being the heavy tackle which suspended the lower yards in the 18th century before thc introduction of iron trusses. The lead from the jeer blocks went through a vertical sheave in the bitt (one each side) and was then belayed around the top of the bitt. There were three sheave holes in each bitt, one for the jeers and the others for the topsail sheets and the clew garnets. After the elimination of the jeers the bitts became known as topsail sheet bitts.

   The foremast topsail sheet bitts could also be used to easc the strain off the cable on the windlass, by having the cable (rope) also take some turns around the ends of the cross-member. With a chain cable a separate rope or tackle would be hooked or seized to the chain and then belayed around the cross-member. The vertical bitts would have strong knees of wood or iron to the deck if used for this purpose.

   The crosspiece was used as a belaying rail and pierced with holes for the belaying pins, the member then being called a fife rail. Centuries before, the fife rail was at the ship's side and referred to a long thick horizontal plank let into the timber heads abreast the mast. It was pierced with bela ying pin holes which from its similarity to the musical instrument gave rise to the name. Eventually the bitts on the centreline had additional fife rails in the fore and aft direction and were supported by turned stanchions, in a variety of patterns as shown.(51) The sheaves for topsail sheet etc. were retained on some clippers, but on others the lead blocks were hooked to eyebolts around the mast, and belaying was done on a spider band on the mast which held a number ofbelaying pins. An elaboration on the arrangement of fife rails which dated back to much earlier times was sometimes made, whereby two additional horizontal rails were added to the sides and ends between the stanchions. A series of swivelling lead blocks with single sheaves were fixed between these rails for various leads of running rigging which were belayed on the top rail. The top rail was then higher than usual, about 4 ft. A small type of single fife rail was often situated on the forecastle just inside the knightheads to belay some of the headsail' s running gear .

   The mainmast fife rails could take the bearings for the bilge pumps which were normally situated inside the rails, or else the pumps could have their own side frame supports (29). The pump flywheel incidentally had curved spokes, not just for ornament's sake but because it was found that with straight spokes, as the casting cooled down the varying rate of contraction of the spokes as against that of the thick rim often caused cracks in the wheel. (The old-fashioned domestic mangle had similar wheels, though smaller.)