286 SUBMARINE CABLE LAYING AND EEPAIEING. 



bight of cable Inboard, both erds being over bowp, one cf 

 the ends being that of the seaward cable. The other end 

 is from cable in tank ready to pay out over stern. This 

 end now spliced on at bows leads from the tows round out- 

 side the ship to the stern sheave where it comes aboard to 

 tank. 



When preparing to slip this bight over bows men are placed 

 at convenient distances along the ship's side with hand slip 

 ropes, the bights of which suspend the cable over the side, as in 

 Fig. 168. When the splice is let go over the bows tbe strain 

 is taken up by these hand slip ropes and the ends of the same 

 are let go successively as the strain comes on them. By this 

 means the strain due to weight of cable as it sinks is checked, 

 and does not come suddenly upon ship's stern. Should the 

 wind and current come from the right direction during this 

 operation nothing more is necessary, but the precaution is 

 often taken to have a stopper and thimble put on cable 

 Immediately over ship's quarter, with a drum rope rove through 

 and fixed in such a manner as to be able to take the full strain 

 on the cable before, in slipping, it reaches the propeller. The 

 rope is then slaeked away gradually while ship is manoeuvred 

 Into a position in which the strain takes cable clear of the 

 propeller. This done the cable is in position for paying out 

 over stern sheave. When slipping spUce at bovs fcr paying 

 out at stern the operation is often carried out in the fd'owing 

 way : — The cable is eased away through the stoppers at bows 

 until only a small bight remains inboard. Then outboard 

 stoppers are put on the cable on each side just outside the 

 bow sheaves. A drum rope Is then led from the picking-up 

 drum and threaded through the end of the outboard stopper 

 and the end made fast to bollards near fish davits. When 

 this is done on each side of bight, the drum ropes are heavod 

 tight on board, and the inboard stoppers taken adrift. A 

 heaving line is then run through the bight to guide and 

 steady it over the bows and drum-ropes are slacked away, so 

 lowering the splice into the sea. This operation is shown 

 in Fig. 169. 



When the bight is in the position shown the heaving line is 

 run clear of the cable, and when sufficient length of drum- 

 rope is payed out the ends fast to bollards are let go and the 



