248 THE BATHYSPHERE OF 1 9 34 



proximately sixteen inches. On this wooden center the 

 cable is spooled, great attention being paid to the tension 

 and the closeness with which each revolution of cable ap- 

 proaches the preceding revolution. However, no matter 

 how tightly the cable is wound, after a few deep dives it 

 loosens slightly and then as each line of cable goes on the 

 drum, it forces itself between the lines of the cable layer 

 beneath. When this happens, the cable, as it is let out, snaps 

 away from the drum with a most unpleasant sound, and, 

 what is worse, comes away jerkily and unevenly. Hence 

 the necessity of occasionally rewinding the cable mechan- 

 ically, under tension, a proceeding that occurred twice 

 during the 1934 season. 



In spooling the wire on the drum a snatch-block is fas- 

 tened about the cable and connected to each side of the 

 ship by block and tackles. By hauling on these tackles the 

 deck-hands are able to pull the wire from side to side, and 

 an even winding results. 



Winches: For lifting the bathysphere the old Arcturus 

 seven-ton Lidgerwood winch is still used. This has a drum 

 with a solid steel core of i o inches in diameter, and a width 

 between outer flanges of five feet six inches. Two strength- 

 ening bars were added to the winch during 1934. 



The two winches for lowering and raising the boom and 

 for moving the boom laterally are ordinary ship winches. 



All of these machines and the sheaves have been fastened 

 to the deck by new steel bolts to large wooden balks that in 



