Gerry,

Sorry about the delay. Interesting? Yes! I wondered about exactly
this question when I was working thro' Bagshaw's book. Now you've
popped the embarrassing question! I was in the RN myself but that was
getting on for 2 decades ago. I cannot remember what the norm was
then!

However, even if I could, it still wouldn't help as we're talking
about bargemen in the 19??'s! I need to contact an "old bargeman" -
I'll come back to you.

Mike



--- In Thames_Barges@..., "Gerry Elvy" <gelvy@a...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Mike:
> Something interesting just came up from an old Navy buddy of mine,
he
> mentioned that the Navy manuals for seamship gave the rope sizes
from
> England in circumfrence rather than dia. until later in the 1900 so
that the
> measurements you gave me from the book 1922 by Harry Bagshaw could
possibly
> be cir. Do you know if this is the case?
> Interesting eh?
>
>
>
>
>
>