ABSTRACT
Anchors in one form or another are known to have been around from about 6000 bc. At this time the basic 'anchor' was most likely a basket or a type of holder for a collection of stones, probably used by the Egyptians on the River Nile and in the associated waters of the Mediterranean. The holding power of anchor is generally considered to be very good indeed. The design is such that the stock is longer and heavier than the arms. The stockless anchor's greatest advantage is its close stowing properties; it is easily housed in the hawse pipe when not in use. It is easily handled for all anchor operations and made anchor beds obsolete. The overall size of Hall stockless anchors will vary between individual ships' needs, but the head must be at least three-fifths of the total weight of the anchor.
