the lips 41 a 42 a 43 a 44 a extend over the inner surfaces 23 c 22 c 23 d 22 d at least a portion of the composite members 20 21 when used with the composite members 20 21 the lip of each of the clasping members 41 42 43 44 engages at least a portion of each of the composite members as stated above each of the clasping members 41 42 43 44 is provided with a leg in one embodiment the legs 41 b 42 b 43 b 44 b extend from the outer surfaces 23 e 22 e 23 f 22 f of the composite members as fig1 illustrates each leg extends from each outer surface so that the leg and the corresponding outer surface are generally orthogonal an orientation suitable for a fastener in one embodiment a bolt extends parallel to the outer surfaces 22 e 23 e of the composite members 20 21 through the respective legs 41 b 42 b of clasping members 41 42 as is shown in fig7 in similar fashion a bolt extends parallel to the outer surfaces 22 f 23 f of the composite members 20 21 through the respective legs 43 b 44 b of clasping members 43 44 thus the clasping members 41 42 43 44 secure together the two composite members 41 42 referring now to fig3 the cross arm is 10 is provided with a plurality of hardware plates 71 72 which are referred to herein as a first plate 71 and a second plate 72 the plates 71 and 72 are made of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum however other materials.