MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ۰ 170 
wire from paying out faster than its own weight can take it off the reel. 
The action of the new machine has the effect of a governor on the mo- 
tions of the recl, which can be explained as follows: If the ship plunge 
or roll downward, the strain is relieved from the wire, and the conse- 
quent effort of the cross-head to rise is transferred to the friction line. 
Thus more resistance is automatically placed upon the reel, checking its 
speed or stopping it altogether, — rarely the latter, — until the rising 
of the vessel or the slowing down of the reel causes an increased strain 
onthe wire. As the strain increases the cross-head is borne down, which 
again eases the friction line, allowing the reel to revolve more rapidly. 
In general terms, then, if the tension of the wire increases the tension 
of the friction rope diminishes, and vice versa. When the vessel is quiet 
the accumulator has no inherent effect in changing the amount of re- 
sistance on the reel. This alternating movemént of the cross-head when 
paying out is scarcely perceptible to the eye, and the motions of the 
reel were found to be not fitful, but remarkably smooth, 
With the original machine, when the sinker strikes bottom the weight 
of the sinker ceases to act as a moving force for the reel, and if a resist- 
ance slightly in excess of the weight of the wire payed out has been 
placed upon the reel, the latter will stop. In the same case with the 
new machine, the weight of the sinker not only ceases to act as a mov- 
ing force for the recl, but the force, due to the weight of the sinker, 
is automatically transferred to the friction line thus: the cross-head, 
being freed from the bearing-down effort of the weight of the sinker, 
rises and communicates that effort to the friction line. This pecu- 
liarity of the, new machine may not appear to give any great advan- 
tage over the original machine ; but, since it is a safeguard, and results, 
without extra costs, from the action of such parts of the machinery as 
are devised for other and more necessary purposes, it may be considered 
a good point in the working of the apparatus. 
As soon as tho sinker strikes bottom, which is made apparent by the 
stopping of the recl, read the register and the odometer, and at the 
same time ship the crank on the axles of the reel. Throw the bight of 
the friction line out of the friction score, and, to insure the detachment 
of the sinker, pay out, if necessary, a few turns of the wire by hand 
until the wire feels slack. Then reel in a few turns cautiously, and the 
distance that tho eross-head travels down its guides will indicate whether 
the sinker has been detached. Generally, with a good form of detacher, 
it drops off on striking bottom. Avoid slacking the wire more than is 
necessary. It is well to keep a record of the time occupied by the reel 
