128 



SUBilARIXE CABLE LAYI^"G AXD REPAIRING. 



lines ia tow. The line is of Sin. manilla, in coils shackled 

 together as payed oat. The end being secured on board 

 over stern sheave, boats proceed paying out the line to 

 shore. Once on the beach the end is passed through the first 

 spider sheave, then a coil shackled on and passed through 

 second sheave, whence the remainder of line is payed out by 

 boats back to ship, finally passing end on board over bow 

 sheave to picking-up drum. 



While this is being done the engine of aft paying-out gear 

 is set to work to haul end of cable up from tank to drum, 

 round which it is taken three times, passed astern, and made 



Fia. 61. — Balloon Buoy Floating Shore-Eud. 



fast to end of hauling line. All being ready, the order is given 

 to heave in the line on the forward gear, and at the same time 

 the engine of the aft gear is set to work to haul up and pay 

 out cable over stern. The first balloon buoy is attached to the 

 end of the cable, and buoys are put on about every ten fathoms 

 as the cable leaves the ship. This is done by a man slung over 

 the stern in an iron cage ; the balloons are ready to his hand, 

 and take only a moment to make fast. 



If all goes well, a mile of shore- end can be laid in this 

 manner in about an hour, sometimes less ; bat at times the 

 hauling line breaks or the cable fouls something, and causes- 



