36 SUBMAEINB CABLE LAYING AND REPAIRING. 



matically gives warning of the approach of shallow water, for 

 which reason it has been largely adopted by the Navy and 

 Mercantile Marine as a precaution for safety. 



The apparatus is lowered from a fairlead (B) fixed so as to 

 overhang clear of ship's stern, and at such a height that the 

 wire coming from the winch assumes an angle approximately 

 as shown in Fig. 27. The ship is slowed to 9 or 10 knots 

 while lowering, a strain being meanwhile kept on the wire by 

 means of a light pressure on the hand-brake lever. As the 

 kite sinks its vertical depth from the fairlead is shown on a 

 dial attached to the winch, and when the desired depth is 

 reached the brake is applied sufficiently to stop paying out, 

 and the wire drum locked by engaging a pawl in a ratchet 

 wheel attached thereto. Single casts for depth can also be 

 taken by the apparatus, and the depth read off the dial 

 instantly without waiting to haul in. 



