62 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [60] 



METHOD OF SPLICING WIRE TO STRAY LINE (PLATE XXX). 



In sounding with wire it is necessary to have a flexible cord between 

 the sinker and wire to take up any slack that may occur when the for- 

 mer strikes the bottom. This cord is known as stray line, Fig. 5 ; cod 

 line is used for the purpose, and is attnched to the wire in the following 

 manner: The wire is stuck twice against the lay 5 inches from the end 

 of the stray line, then passed with the lay from 4 to 6 inches, the end 

 stuck twice against the lay, and served over with sail twine. The wire 

 is then passed with the lay to the end of the line, the strands trimmed 

 down and served over with twine, nnd a seizing is also put on over the 

 wire first stuck against the lay. This makes a neat and secure splice, 

 which passes readily over the accumulator pulley without danger of 

 catching on the guards or fair-leader. 



THE MEASURING REEL (PLATE XXXIl). 



The service reel being 22.89 inches in diameter, the initial layer of 

 wire, 0.028 inch in diameter, equals one fathom to the turn, the next 

 layer a trifle more and so on, until with a full reel the error would be 

 about 10 inches to the turn; and as the register indicates the turns 

 only, a correction must be applied to its reading. In order to determine 

 the amount of error, the wire is measured as it is wound on the service 

 reel by means of the measuring reel, which is made of cast iron, is 22.89 

 inches in diameter, and mounted in a cast-steel frame bolted to a heavy 

 oak bed plate. On the reel shaft between the reel and frame is a worm 

 wheel which actuates the register. 



THE BLADE (PLATE XXXIl). 



The blade is used in connection with the measuring reel for transfer- 

 ring wire from the coil to the service reel. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sec- 

 tional elevation showing the method of construction. It is made of oak 

 with the following exceptions: an iron screw and washer at the top of 

 the spindle, which supports the reel ; a galvanized iron washer, which 

 is placed on the reel over the coil of wire to prevent slack turns from 

 flying off; and a galvanized iron rim around the base of the reel to 

 confine slack turns that might fall between it and the bed. Fig. 2 shows 

 the reel ready for service. 



TRANSFERRING AND MEASURING WIRE. 



The service reel is mounted on the Sigsbee sounding machine, which 

 is set at any desired angle with the deck ; the hand cranks and register 

 are shipped, and the reel carefully cleaned and oiled. 



The measuring reel is placed directly in the rear of the sounding ma 

 chine, and the blade in the rear of the reel and in line with both. The 

 sealed tin can in which the wire is received is opened, a coil taken out, 



