[59] U. S. FISH COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 01 



pounds each. They are wrapped in oiled paper, which is liable to be 

 torn in handling, exposing the wire to the sea air, when it is soon 

 ruined by rust. The losses from this cause prove at times quite seri- 

 ous. When this wire is used for sounding it is advisable to put the 

 whole supply on reels of some sort and place them in oil at once, where 

 it will remain free from rust until it is required for use. 



This wire is less highly polished than the American and for this rea- 

 son rusts more quickly, requiring greater care when in use. 



METHODS OF SPLICING WIRE. 



The following simple and effective method was formerly used with good 

 results, and, although no longer followed, it is worthy of mention. Clean 

 the ends of the wire thoroughly for two feet and lay them together with 

 about eight, turns 5 wind the ends and two intermediate points with a 

 few turns of very fine annealed wire ; cover them with solder and smooth 

 the surface with knife and sand paper. 



may's splice (plate xxx). 



Lieut. Sidney H. May, U. S. X., had general charge of the sounding 

 apparatus during our first year's work, and among many useful sugges- 

 tions was the wire splice above mentioned, which was used with such 

 excellent results that we finally adopted it in preference to all others. 



The ends are filed to a long tapering point, and thoroughly cleaned 

 for about a foot, then laid together with four turns and a seizing of very 

 small annealed wire put on near each end (Fig. 2). The tapered ends, 

 which have become annealed during the filing process, are wrapped 

 closely around the standing parts, and the whole splice is covered with 

 solder by running it back and forth through a groove in a piece of 

 board, in which a small quantity of solder is kept in a fluid state by 

 the application of a soldering iron. It is smoothed down with knife, 

 file, and sand paper. Fig. 3 shows the splice partially covered with sol- 

 der, and Fig. 4 the completed splice ; the total length of which is from 

 6 to 7 inches. 



The ends are quickly- tapered by grasping the wire with nippers or a 

 small hand-vise, and laying it on a plane hard-wood surface for filing. 



SPIRIT LAMP FOR SOLDERING SPLICES OF SOUNDING "WIRE (PLATE 



XXXI). 



The soldering iron has been partially superseded by the spirit lamp 

 for soldering sounding wire. A quantity of solder is placed in the cup 

 over the flame, where it is soon melted. The wire having been pre- 

 pared as directed, is drawn back and forth through the fused metal 

 until a sufficient quantity adheres, when the splice is smoothed in the 

 usual manner. 



