ON DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 339 



perceived it sooner), that every turn of wire under 

 a pull of 50 Ibs. must press the wheel on the two 

 sides of any diameter with opposing forces of 

 IOO Ibs., and that therefore 2,240 turns, with an 

 average pull on the wire of 50 Ibs., must press the 

 wheel together with a force of 100 tons, or. else 

 something must give way. In fact the wheel did 

 give way, and its yielding went on to such an extent 

 that when 500 fathoms of wire were still out the 

 endless cord which had been used for hauling 

 would no longer work on its groove. The remain- 

 ing 500 fathoms and the 30 Ibs. sinker were got in 

 with great difficulty by one man working at a time 

 in an awkward position over the vessel's side, 

 turning the wheel slowly round by a handle. I was 

 in the greatest anxiety, expecting at any moment 

 to see the wheel get so badly out of shape that it 

 would be impossible to carry it round in its frame, 

 and I half expected to see it collapse altogether 

 and cause a break of the wire. Neither accident 

 happened, and, to our great relief, the end of the 

 wire came above water, when instantly the 19 

 fathoms of cod-line were taken in hand and the 



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