Janet Muehlbacher (asker) Oct 21, 2011:

Thanks to everyone Thanks to everyone who replied!

Anne-Katrin Grube Oct 21, 2011:

picture of a Heringslasche: http://www.fritz-berger.de/campingartikel/heringslasche-alum...

maybe this might help natives to find the right answer

Ilse Schwender Oct 20, 2011:

I am a experienced camper and around the tent each i.e. metre is a rubber loop for the wirepegs and the guylines are supposed to be fixed with the pegs. The guylines have a plate to pull the rope/line through. The guylines are fixed with a fabric loop mas o menos 120cm above at the tent. the lines against storm are put in the top of the poles and again with something like a plate, In the previous mentioned link http://www.esvocampingshop.com/en/tentaccessoires-en/afspanm... the plates are runners or rings.

Janet Muehlbacher (asker) Oct 20, 2011:

I found this on a site selling them:
" Zum Selbstherstellen von Spannleinen und Sturmverspannungen.
Öffnung für alle gängigen Heringe. Ø 5 mm"

so it looks like it is used to secure a tent against high winds.

Lynda Hepburn Oct 20, 2011:

Can you please indicate where on the tent this object is used i.e. guy lines, pegs, poles etc.