Dear all, I've been reading through the 1839 edition of "Rules and Conditions of the Coal Trade Association for Insurance Policy" dated at South Shields 20 February, 1839. The last page is a sheet of nine "Instructions to Masters of Ships" and # 2 is "To see that the anchors be marked on the shank with the ship's name in full, the weight, and owner's initials." How would such marks be made? - painted? incised? other? Was this peculiar to this insurance association or was it standard practice? Regards, Adi