NOTES ON CHAIN CABLES. 175 



The question of heat treatment or annealing of cable chains for merchant vessels is not 

 practicable and is very wisely not indulged in, as with cast-iron studs as are usually fitted 

 in cables for merchant ships, heating of the chain causes a swelling of the studs and in many 

 cases produces cracks and also has the bad effects of loosening the studs in the links. 



There does not appear to be anything novel or unpractical in welding heavy chain under 

 a steam hammer, although we have had side-welded chain of 3->^-inch iron made by hand in 

 Pennsylvania, which when tested was found to be of the very highest quality of chain and 

 presented no difficulty in making. 



Mr. Otterson's paper is most interesting. 



The Chairman : — ^If there is no other gentleman who desires to discuss the paper, we 

 will be glad to have Mr. Otterson make such reply as he cares to. 



Mr. Otterson : — ^I think that the future development of the manufacture of chain, as 

 regards the material, will probably be along the lines suggested by Mr. Howard, and that 

 we will go into larger sizes to the use of a softer and more ductile material. We have re- 

 cently received a shipment of material of this character, and while in the straight specimen it 

 gave rather low test, yet when formed into links the tests were very satisfactory, the prob- 

 ability being that the ductile material under deflection flowed more readily and subjected it- 

 self to less strains than the harder and more brittle material. 



I want to express my appreciation of Admiral Watt's remarks. I might say, with the 

 process developed to its present form, and the links turned over to the chainmakers, that it 

 will be possible for them to increase the output one hundred per cent, or more. I do not say 

 they will increase it ; we will probably have difficulty in making them do it, but it is possible 

 for them to increase it. 



In regard to the remarks of Admiral Bowles, as to the question of shackles and swivels, 

 I might say that discussion of those features has not been included in the paper for the 

 reason that we have not had as much trouble with the manufacture of shackles and swivels as 

 we have had in the manufacture of chains, and they are at present manufactured by ma- 

 chine process. I feel that any troubles which have been experienced have been more in the 

 testing and service of these appliances, and with their fit on the wildcat. 



The Chairman :^I am sure you all desire to express your appreciation of Mr. Otter- 

 son's paper, and on your behalf I will extend to him the thanks of the Society. 



The next paper is No. 16, entitled "Model Experiments and Speed Trials of the 60- 

 Foot Motor Cruiser Kathmar II," by Mr. A. E. Luders. 



Mr. Luders presented the paper. 



