THE LAYING OF SUBMARINE CABLES. 



127 



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it every 10 fathoms, which float 

 it, and thus prevent any friction 

 with the bottom. 



A shore- working party is or- 

 ganised who proceed in a steam 

 launch to shore as soon as ship 

 has anchored, with surf-boats in 

 tow containing spider sheaves, 

 chains, sand anchors, picks, 

 shovels, tools, signalling flags, 

 and lamps. Communication be- 

 tween this party and the ship 

 is carried on by hand signals 

 according to a pre-arranged code, 

 by means of flags during the day 

 and lamps at night. 



The cable hut is also landed 

 and erected in a position well 

 above high - water mark, and 

 natives are engaged to excavate 

 a trench from the beach at low- 

 water mark to cable hut, about 

 five feet deep. 



The large spider sheaves are 

 anchored in a horizontal position 

 at two points on the beach, as in 

 the illustration. The sheaves are 

 of strong but light construction, 

 with iron spokes. The rims are 

 of V section to guide the hauling 

 line or cable, and the boss turns 

 on a spindle in a bracket. The 

 bracket is made fast to a sand 

 anchor, which is simply a few 

 timbers fixed together and buried 

 in the sand. 



While the shore party are 

 getting the above in readiness, 

 the launch returns to ship and 

 takes boats containing hauling 



