ROUTE SELECTION AND CABLE LAYING 303 



for the two cables as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The final routes are clear of 

 existing cables and avoid crossing known trawling areas and anchorages. 

 The cable stations are well sited with regard to staff amenities, accessi- 

 tnlity and strategic requirements. Soundings taken during the laying of 

 the two cables showed a very even bottom except in the Firth of Lome 

 and one or two places in Trinity Bay. The general profile of the route is 

 shown on Fig. 5. 



It is considered that these routes have been selected with care and 

 meet all of the requirements of a well planned cable project. Time alone 

 will tell how well the objectives have been met. 



Cable Laying 

 Earhj Methods 



In 1865 when the legendary Great Eastern was pressed into service 

 to lay the first successful transoceanic telegraph cable she was fitted 

 out with certain special cable handling gear. The need for such gear 

 had been amply demonstrated by events which transpired during two 

 earlier and unsuccessful attempts by H.M.S. Agamemnon and U.S.S. 

 Niagara. 



For her assignment, Great Eastern was fitted with three large tanks 

 into which her cargo of cable could be coiled. She was also provided 

 with a large drum about which the cable could be wrapped in the course 

 of its passage from the tanks to the sea. This drum was connected to an 

 adjustable braking mechanism which provided the drag necessary to 

 assure that the cable pay-out rate was correct with relation to the speed 

 of the vessel. In addition, a dynamometer Avas provided so that the 

 stress in the cable would be known at all times. A large sheave fitted 

 to the stern of the ship provided the point of departure of the cable in 

 its journey to the sea bottom. 



On Friday, July 13, 1866, Great Eastern steamed away from Valencia, 

 Ireland, and 14 daj's later, on July 27, she arrived off Trinity Bay, 

 Newfoundland, and completed the landing of the western shore end. 



H.M.T.S. Monarch 



Earl}' in the planning for the transatlantic project it was realized that 

 in no small measure the success of the venture would depend on avail- 

 abilitj' of a vessel suitable for laying the cables. It was fortunate that 

 one of the partners to the enterprise was also the o\Mier and operator of 

 the largest cable ship in all the world, and one well suited to the task at 

 hand. 



