CHAP. I. | THE EQUIPMENT OF THE SHIP. 67 
necting-rod would do. This style of engine is commonly used 
for pumping, the pump-rods being attached to the guide on 
the opposite side from the piston-rod. At one end of the 
crank a small toothed wheel is fixed, which drives one thrice 
the multiple on a horizontal shaft, extending nearly across the 
deck, and about 3 feet 6 inches above it. At each end of this 
shaft a large and small drum are fixed, the larger having three 
sheaves cast upon it, of different sizes, the lesser being a com- 
mon barrel only. It is to these drums the line is led, two or 
three turns being taken round the drums selected. In hauling 
in, the dredge-rope is taken to a gin-block, secured to a span on 
the forecastle; then aft to the drum of the donkey -engines 
on the port side; then to a leading block on the port side of 
the quarter- deck, and across the deck to a block on the star- 
board side; then to the drum of the donkey-engines on the 
starboard side, corresponding in diameter with the drum used 
on the port side; and from this it is finally taken and coiled. 
The strain is of course greatest at the yard-arm and the first 
leading-block ; and by this arrangement it is gradually dimin- 
ished as the wire passes round the series. 
One slight change has been made in the handling of the 
dredge which has certain advantages. Instead of attaching the 
weights directly to the dredge-rope and sending them down 
with the dredge, as was our former practice, a “ toggle,” a small 
spindle-shaped piece of hard wood, is attached transversely to 
the rope at the required distance, 200 to 300 fathoms, in ad- 
vance of the dredge. A “messenger,” consisting of a figure of 
eight of rope, with two large thimbles in the loops, has one of 
the thimbles slipped over the chain before the dredge is hung, 
and the other thimble made fast to a lizard. When the dredge 
is well down, and has taken its direction from the drift of the 
ship, the weights, usually six 28-lb. deep-sea leads, in three can- 
vas covers, are attached to the other thimble of the “ traveler,” 
which is then cut adrift from the lizard, and allowed to spin 
