to which this winch is put include bottom 

 dredging, towing large midwater trawls, taking 

 large bottom cores, and obtaining samples of 

 sea water for carbon-14 (C*) analysis (fig. 

 1-2). 



The winch the oceanographer probably uses 

 the most is the oceanographic winch. This is a 

 medium size winch which holds 20,000- to 

 30,000-foot lengths of wire rope. This wire is 

 about %i inch in diameter and is usually stain- 

 less steel. The winch is a high-speed type and 

 is the one from which the majority of oceano- 

 graphic instruments are lowered. It is used for 

 water sampling bottles, current meters, under- 

 water cameras, small coring devices, small 

 dredges, plankton nets, various temperature 

 measuring instruments, and numerous other 

 types of equipment (fig. 1-1). 



One of the smallest winches used on an 

 oceanographic ship is the bathythermograph, 

 or BT, winch. This winch is used to lower the 



BT, both while underway and when lying-to 

 on station. The BT is a recording thermometer 

 capable of registering temperature against 

 depth down to 900 feet. The winch uses about 

 2,500 feet of ?^2-inch diameter stainless steel 

 wire. It is sometimes used in shallow water for 

 taking small bottom samples when underway 

 with a specially designed bottom sampler called 

 a "scoopfish". Mechanical current meters 

 and vertical hand plankton nets are sometimes 

 lowered from the BT winch. 



Frequently special winches are used to lower 

 and raise specific pieces or types of equipment 

 such as electrical current meters or special 

 hydrophones. 



1-12 LABORATORY FACILITIES.— An 

 oceanographic ship needs several laboratory 

 spaces. A deck laboratory is necessary in which 

 instruments are prepared for operation and 

 some analyses are carried out. It should be 

 located near the oceanographic winch and 



Figure 1-1. View of A-frame, platform, and oceanographic winch. 



H. O. 607 



