Wooden, possibly British oak, handle covered with green baize. Red baize cut in a zig-zag pattern covers the ends. Coarsely sewn with twine. Nine rope tails with a single knot at the end of each. A label is attached and sealed with the Admiralty foul anchor seal. "Sealed pattern of cat to serve as a pattern of the instrument wherewith corporal punishment awarded by court martial by commanding officers of HM ships for offences against the Naval Discipline Act shall be carried out. Not for use on board but to be carefully preserved and returned into store on the ship being out of commission". The Naval Discipline Act was passed in 1866 and corporal punishment in the navy abolished in 1879.