To remedy this, the bowsprit has been devised, chiefly as an out-rigger for the fore-stay.
But in order to render the spar effective for that purpose, it requires to be very strongly bound down.

There has, therefore, been contrived what is called the stem, or cut-water, which is a strong but narrow projection from the bows, securely fastened by long and thick bolts of iron and copper to the body of the ship.

The chief purpose of this stem is to furnish a point of support for the ropes securing the bowsprit.

Of these, the most important is called the gammoning, which consists of a strong and well-stretched hawser, passed up and down successively, in perpendicular turns, over the bowsprit and through a hole horizontally cut in the stem.

At each turn the gammoning hawser is hove taut, while every effort is used to bring the bowsprit down into its place.