CHAP. XX.] SOUNDING TRAVELLER 435 



abbreviated description is taken from a pamphlet issued by the 

 Hydrographic Department. 



The sounding spar is secured in position by guys and topping 

 Uft of wire, set up by bottle screws. At the head of the spar 

 there is a collar with fom- lugs, one to take topping lift, two to 

 take the guys, and the fourth has shackled to it a 5-inch swivel 

 block, through which is rove the jackstay of l|-inch wire. 

 This lug is bent in a forward direction, so that the sounding 

 line will clear it when being hove in. 



Shackled to the tail of the 5-inch block there is a small 

 snatch block, through which is rove the hauling aft line attached 

 to the traveller. An ii'on davit, carrying a 12-inch swivel block, 

 through which the lead-line is rove, is clamped to the head of 

 the sounding spar, from which it projects in such a position 

 that the head is inclined forward so that the lead-line when up 

 and down is in the same vertical plane as the jackstay. 



The diameter of the spar at its head should be 6| inches, 

 and it should be stepped at such an angle that its head is 

 vertically 2 feet outside the outboard end of the sounding plat- 

 form ; the length of the spar is governed by the angle of incUna- 

 tion of the jackstay, which should be about 10°. The lower 

 boom, at right angles to the ship's side, and horizontal, or at 

 anj/ angle from the horizontal, has a block at its outer end 

 through which the jackstay is rove and shackled to a wire 

 pendant secured to a bolt in the ship's side in such a position 

 that when taut the pendant forms a martingale to keep the 

 boom from topping. 



The lead-line, to which is attached an iron ball, is rove 

 thi'ough the 12-inch swivel block at the end of the davit on 

 the spar, and the lead is suspended from the ball by a piece 

 of chain 2 feet in length. 



The traveller, fitted with two projecting carrier horns, being 

 placed on the jackstay, the latter is set up by an Axallwazo 

 pulley; the traveller is then hauled aft by the hauling aft line. 

 The lead and line are in position for commencing sounding 

 when the ball is close up or near to the block on the davit. 

 The carrier horns of the traveller being under the ball and above 

 the lead, when the lead-line is released the ball falls into the 

 carrier horns. A cone-shaped releasing buffer is attached to the 

 jackstay, on which it sMdes with the cone pointing aft, and a line 



