232 



SUBMAKINE CABLE LAYING AND KE PAIRING. 



the very centre of the tank, a hollow cone, about]^6ft. diameter 

 at the bottom, and tapering up to 3ft. at the top, is placed 

 in the centre of each tank. These serve to keep in^- position 

 the several turns of cable composing each flake, and are other- 

 wise put to use in holding fresh water, or battens. 



Inside the tank, while cable is coming on board, a number 

 of men, varying from six to twelve according to the size 

 of the tank, are employed at coiling. One man runs round 

 and round the tank, keeping up his pace at the rate the 

 cable comes in, and pushes it outwards towards the re- 

 mainder of the men, who are stationed round the tank at 



Fig, 135a.— Manner of Fixing Cable Ends, 



equal distances. As the cable passes each man, he seizes it 

 and lays it down close to the last turn, so that the coils are 

 kept regular and kinks avoided. The runner, after a spell, 

 drops into the place of one of the coilers, who immediately 

 takes the runner's place and follows up the cable in the same 

 manner. Native seamen, who are chiefly employed as crew on 

 cable-ships abroad, do this work very well, singing or yelling 

 in their own way while doing it, their voices reverberating 

 again and again in the large hollow tanks, and producing a 

 strange medley of sound. 



