EXPERIENCES OF DJVERS. 2Gi 



stem. The sailors, provided with the improved ap- 

 paratus, repaired the pipe in seven hours. 



It is veiy important to kee[) the bottoms of vessels 

 cleansed while they are on a voyage, especially in 

 hot climates. If the apparatus were employed hy 

 passage-boats, a great economy of coal would be ef- 

 fected. In 109 hours of labour beneath the water, 

 the armour-plated ram Taureau, which had been 

 afloat four months, and the bottom of which was 

 thickly coveied with seaweed, little shells, and muscles, 

 was completely cleanse 1 ; its speed, as ascertained 

 immediately afterwards, was 12J knots — a high 

 rat<^ of sailing for a vessel of that class. 



5. Sensations of the Diver — Depth to which it is possible 

 descend. 



There is a limit beyond which it is very dangerous, 

 not to say impossible, to descend. This limit is at 

 the depth of about 200 feet. The diver at that 

 depth is subjected to the pressure of seven atmo- 

 splieres, and any trifling incident might endanger 

 his lite. The reader will find a curious example of 

 this in the Annales de Sauvetage Maritime (May, 

 1866):- 



"On February 17, 1865, abt^ut 3 o'clwk in the 

 afternoon, a steamer on fire was siMited oft' UshiU»t. 



