THE CABLE SHIP ON REPAIRS. 



211 



comes too great for the rope. In such cases, instead of riskiog 

 breakage of the cable or rope, it is safer to stop lifting and 

 attach grapnel rope to buoy. Fig. 122 shows this operation, 

 but the sketch, for want of space, does not represent the 

 correct curve taken by the cable when lifted. After buoying 

 the bight in this manner the ship proceeds to a position further 

 on, at a distance equal to double or half as much again as the 

 depth of water, and lowers grapnel again. This time a cutting 

 and holding grapnel is used and the knives set to cut the cable 

 on the side next the buoy, the other end being lifted inboard 

 and tested. On returning to the buoy and getting grapnel 

 rope connected to drum again, the bight is easily lifted, as 

 half the strain has been removed by cutting. 



Fig. 122.— Bight Buoyed. Ship Cutting. 



When grappling the second time and raising to cut, ship 

 must be kept moving a little towards buoy, so that no strain 

 comes upon the latter ; otherwise the cable which it supports 

 may be dragged away and pull the buoy under the surface, 

 when it may collapse. On a repair to one of the Australian 

 cables, where a bight was buoy edin this manner, the ship, while 

 lifting the second time to cut, was carried by a surface current 

 away from the buoy. The latter was seen disappearing below 

 the surface in time to avert its sinking too far, the ship being 

 immediately steamed against the current and kept moving up 

 towards the buoy to relieve the strain. Buoys have also been 

 known to sink in a strong tideway. 



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