302 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
see them properly straightened, then pass the sounding’ rod hack and forth through 
the hole, and when satisfied that it moves freely let it remain in the sinker with its 
weight resting on the base of the hollow cone; pass the ends of the bail through the 
lugs, imt the bight over the tumbler, which for convenience has been placed in action 
and secured bj^ a seizing of twine, then bend the ends up and take a couple of turns 
around their standing parts, leaving sufficient slack to unhook the bail without 
displacing the tumbler. This will insure the proper length of bail, which should 
suspend the shot just high enough to lift the hollow cone off its seat without bringing 
its apex in contact with the shoulder at the upper end of its stem. It is not absolutely 
necessary to hold the hollow cone off its seat during the descent, but by doing so the 
sinking of the shot is accelerated in proportion to the power recpiired to lift it by the 
ascending column of water in the sounding rod. 
Caution should be observed when titting the bails that no projecting scrai)s of iron 
are left in or at either end of the hole aiul that all scale is removed from its walls, for 
it expands and becomes softened when it is wet; at the same time the material of the 
Cut 30. — Riick for liolding sinkers. 
sinker shrinks under low teini)eratures near the bottom, both tending to crack and 
disengage the scale, which is liable to jam the sounding rod irretrievably. 
Racks for sinkers are necessary on board of vessels engaged in extensive deep-sea 
exploration, not only for convenience in bailing and final preparation, but to have a 
sufficient number at hand for present use, and also to avoid the necessity of bringing 
them on deck and fitting them at night. They should be placed near the sounding 
machine and be capable of holding a dozen sinkers at least. 
A serviceable rack can be made from two boards 1 inch thick and 111 inches wide, 
placed one above the other, 4 inches apart, and secured by suitable end and transverse 
pieces. The upper board has a series of circular holes that receive the sinkers and 
allow them to rest on the lower board, which is ]>ierced with 3-inch holes, directly 
under the larger ones, to allow for the passage of the sounding rods, and, in order that 
they may be jiassed their whole length through the sinker, the rack should be 10 inches 
in height. 
