THE CABLE SHIP ON KSIPAIES. 



277 



fine yarn. The splice is then begun on the right side, and 

 when the sheathing wires have not been cut but opened out, 

 the wires are relaid close together by means of the splicing 

 tool (Fig. 162). This tool is made in steel plate, with notches 

 in the form of two half circles, in which the sheathing wires are 

 placed. The tool is opened in the middle to set it in position 

 across the cable and put the wires in order in their respective 

 notches, and is then closed up and fastened by a small set screw 

 and nut. It is then worked round by the handles in the 

 direction of the lay, and in this manner the wires are forced 

 round the cable in their proper places spirally, exactly similar to 

 the other part of the cable. Little by little as the tool is 

 worked round it is pushed forward along the cable ; for example, 

 in the deep-sea type the lay of the sheathing wires being ten 

 inches, the tool would be pushed forward a distance of ten inches 



Fi3, "162 .—Splicing Tool. 



during every complete turn it makes round cable. "With steel 

 wires the work is much more difficult than with galvanised 

 iron, as the spring of the steel exerts a considerable resisting 

 force to the twist. As the tool is worked along it is followed 

 up in places by seizings of yarn round the cable to keep it 

 from springing back. 



In Fig. 163 this tool is shown in position as used, the sketch 

 representing the operation as nearly completed on the right 

 wires. As soon as the tool is worked round to the end of the 

 wires — that is, to where the left wires are unlaid — a final seizing 

 is put on about 4in. from the end, and the tool removed. With 

 a hand cutting tool the ends are then snipped off" perfectly 

 equal in length. The left wires are now taken in turn, an4 



