THE CABLE SHIP ON REPAIRS. 



283 



of picking out and laying in of \?ires makes a neater job and 

 binds tlie wires together better, it cannot be done when the 

 cables are of different types or lay, and the overlapping splice 

 has proved thoroughly reliable when mide in suffioient length 

 to suit the type of cable, and it takes less time to make than 

 the method first described. 



It now only remains to cover the whole with a serving of 

 tarred yarn. For this purpose the serving mallet shown in 

 Fig. 166 has long been in use. The mallet is represented in 

 the sketch in position for serving, one man turning the mallet 



Fig. 167. — Lucas's Improved Serving Tool. 



round by the handle while his mate follows round with the ball 

 of yarn. Pairs of men are stationed along the splice, who com- 

 mence serving at difiiarent points, and continue till they finish 

 where their neighbours began, so covering 4he whole. The 

 course of the yarn from the ball round the body and handle 

 of the mallet to the cable is shown clearly in the sketch. By 

 the half-turn taken round the root of the handle, the round 

 turns over cable and mallet are in opposite directions, which 

 causes sufficient check on the yarn to render it taut on the 

 cable. 



