DEEP-SEA EXPLOKATION. 
305 
constantly oiled with rag or sponge while reeling in, and it was \vii>ed with an oily rag 
when the intervals between casts exceeded twelve hours. 
The temperature reel, with its special wire of large size, and the storage reel, Idled 
with its sounding wire in readiness to be transferred to the service drums, were 
suspended upon their bearings in wooden reel boxes (cut 31) containing semicircular 
copper tanks, like that above described, with suliicient oil to submerge the lower por- 
tion of the reels, distribution of oil over the surface of the wire being effected by a 
few turns of the reels daily as before. The boxes have semicircular covers for the 
further pix)tection of reels and wire. 
Lime tvater has been snccessfully used as a preservative, but it is inferior to sperm 
oil for the purpose, and has the further disadvantage of irritating the eyes and aggra- 
vating any sores the sounding crew may have on their hands or faces, although this 
objection is hardly worthy of serious consideration except when sounding continuously. 
Large, strong tvire. No. 21 music, approximating to No. IS.]- Eiriuingham gauge or 
No. 17 American gauge, is used on the Tanner machine, and little or no attention is 
given to its protection, except that new wire is imbedded in melted tallow when it 
is wound on the reel, and once or twice a year it is reeled off, cleaned with emery 
paper, replaced upon the reel, and again imbedded in melted tallow. The life of the 
wire under this treatment is about two years. 
METHODS OF SPLICING WIRE. 
Sir William Thomson describes his method in 1872 as follows: 
A splico 2 I'eet long I liave fouud ([uitc. sviflicieut, but 3 feet may be Hafer. The two i>iec.es of wire 
are first prepared by warmiug them sliglitly aud melting on a coating of marine glue to promote surface 
friction. About 3 feet of the ends so prepared are laid together and held between the linger and 
thumb at the middle of the ]iortions thus overlapiiing. Then the free foot and a half of wire on one 
side is bent close around the other in a long spiral, with a lay of about one turn per inch, and the same 
is done for the free foot and a half on the other side. The ends are then served round firmly with 
twine, and the splice is complete. 
This splice is no longer used, and is given here simiily us u mutter of interest in 
connection with Sir VVilliuui’s successful exfieriments in sounding with wire. 
BELKNAP’S SPLICE. 
Oommunder George E. Belknup, U. S. N., adoiited the following splice in 1873: 
A long-jawed twist, 2 feet in length, soldered at the ends and at two or three intermediate xilaces, 
and served with tine waxed twine. 
HOWELL’S SPLICE. 
Commander J. 0. Howell, U. S. N., used the following splice in 1874: 
A short-jawed twist, total length of splice 3 inches. After the lirst cross the turns are close 
together around standing part, the whole covered with .solder, surface smoothed, and ends tapered. 
This splice tvus successfully used by Sigsbee during his extended exploration of 
the Gulf of Mexico from 1874 to 1878. 
THE ALBATROSS SPLICE. 
This splice was reliable when netv, bnt was lial)le to strip after extended wear. 
It was named from its having been the one adopted on board the Albatross in 1883, 
and is as follows : 
The ends of the wire, being first cleaned for 3 feet or more, are lapped and twisted together with 
eight long-jawed turns. The ends and two intermediate points are wound with a few turns of line 
annealed iron wire, the whole covered with solder, ends tapered, and surface carefully smoothed. 
P. C. n. 1896—20 
