The wire of 6000 metres had one joint and that of 9000 metres had two joints made 

 according to Tanner's system 1 ). When the splices were passing the winch was slowered to 

 allow them to be carefully inspected and special care was taken to prevent damage to them. 



Besides this single wire galvanised steel rope was used consisting of 7 wires of 0/55 

 millimetres giving a total diameter of 1.65 millimeter. This wire supplied by the same makers 

 weighed 13.75 kilogramme and costs ƒ21.— per thousand metres. The breaking-strength is 

 somewhat less than the single wire of 0.9 millimetre. 9000 meters of this rope was wound 

 on a special drum of larger diameter. The removal of the drums on and off the sounding 

 machine was easily done. The heavy drums were assisted by the david and tackle block. 



The wire rope was originally supplied in one length without any splices. The advantages 

 and drawbacks of the two kinds of wire are the following. The single piano-wire is lighter, 

 stronger and more durable as long as it does not kink and it gives less resistance in the water 

 but the chances of kinking and loss of sounding apparatus are greater. The rope does not 

 kink so easily and even then does not break. On the other hand it sometimes happens that 

 one of the wires breaks, causing damage and delay as in this case the rope has to be cut 

 and spliced. 



It also takes up much more plankton, carrying it on to the drums, which undoubtedly 

 is apt to cause rusting and thus lessen, its durability. This plankton mixed with the zinc-oxyde 

 of the wire adheres in a strong layer on to the pulleys and drums, 

 causing considerable friction and irregular running. 



There is also a dang-er of the assistants who let the wire 

 pass through the oiled rags held in their hands, getting hurt by I \ 



loose pieces of wire which may pierce the rags in their hands. 

 As soon as they feel any loose wire the machine is stopped and 

 the wire repaired. 



The splicing of the wire is performed in the same manner 

 as ordinary rope. Only that the ends of the wires are not all cut 

 off at the same distance this o-Jves a more gradual increase in 

 thickness to the splice. The splice is then about 200 millimeters 

 lonp- and is wound over with fine wire the ends of which are 



o 



carefully buried in the rope. 



The Sounding leads. 



J ! 



7 



Fie 



The sounding-machine had two deep-sea leads with cocks 

 (sondeur a clef du Prince de Monaco Fig. 10). One of these was 

 lost at the beginning and the other at the end of the voyage. 

 The cockdead consists of a fairly heavy hollow gunmetal tube increased in diameter at the 

 lower end to hold the cock. The inner diameter of the tube is 50 millimeters. Above the cock 



1) See !■ S. Tanxek. Deep-Sea Exploration. Buil. U. S. Fish-Commissioii, XVI. Washington 1897 



