THE CABLE SHIP ON REPAIRS. 



297 



The brake applied to the paying-out drum is the principal 

 means of preventing the cable running out too fast or taking 

 charge. These brakes are now made with wheels of 6ft. or 8ft- 



diameter, upon the face of which all round the circumference 

 bear a set of wood blocks fastened to an iron brake band, as in 

 Fig. 179. This band can be tightened by a right and left- 



