22 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [20] 



dredging port. On the swinging table which has been lowered from 

 the beams overhead is a iiest of hand sieves and various sizes of jars, 

 bottles, and vials, used for preserving specimens. Deck tubs, buckets, 

 &c., are at hand, and a tank of alcohol is secured on the boiler hatch. 

 The side ports are closed in the view, but if more light or air is required 

 they can be opened and secured by iron hooks suspended from the deck 

 beams. 



SOUNDINGS AND SERIAL TEMPERATURES. 



The vessels of the Commission have heretofore used the ordinary deep- 

 sea lead and line for soundings and serial temperatures, and in shoal 

 water it answered their i)uri)Ose, but in depths exceeding 100 fathoms it 

 consumed much time and required nearly every man of the small crew 

 to haul the lead back. 



During the season of 1879 a wooden reel was improvised, on which 

 the lead line was coiled and, by a simple attachment to the ii.y- wheel of 

 the hoisting engine was hove up rapidly, requiring the services of but two 

 men, one at the engine and one to attend the reel. This was a marked im- 

 provement over the old method, but as the work of the Fish Hawk was 

 expected to take her into 300 fathoms or more, it was deemed advisable 

 to substitute i;)iauo wire in place of hemp in order still further to facili- 

 tate the work of taking soundings and serial temperatures. 



SOUNDING MACHINE. 



The machine adopted is shown on a small scale in Plate X, where it 

 is mounted at the stern in readiness for casting the lead. The reel is 

 of cast brass 11.43 inches in diameter, and holds COO fathoms of wire. 

 A friction line, led through a groove common to all sounding reels, con- 

 trols the motion. The cranks are thrown out of gear and hang verti- 

 cally one on each side. The register is on the left of the reel. A small 

 ratchet wheel and pawl hold the reel in place when desired. 



On the extremity of the frame is a small grooved pulley of brass, 

 working in guides and suspended by a coiled spring which allows 

 several inches vertical play. A brass guard is fitted over the upper 

 portion of the pulley to prevent the wire from flying off if suddenly 

 slacked. The reel is moved by friction motion ; a half turn of the right 

 crank ahead brings them both into action, the reverse motion throwing 

 them out, leaving the reel to revolve freely. 



To prepare the machine for sounding, wind the wire on the reel, splice 

 on two or three fathoms of stray line, reeve it over the pulley and bend 

 on the lead and thermometer, the reel being held in position by the 

 ratchet and pawl. Pass the friction line over the groove, reverse the 

 pawl, attend the friction line, lowering the lead carefully to the water's 

 edge, then set the register at zero and all will be ready for a cast. The 

 total weight of the apparatus is 96 pounds. The ordinary leads from 

 12 to 20 pounds weight are used, and, if specimens of the bottom are 



