DEEP-SEA EXPi.ORATION. 
309 
slack turns from Hying off, and a galvanized-iroii base rim around the reel to retain 
slack turns tliat slip down from the coil. 
Cut 37 is a general view of the blade used with English wire, which is put up in 
larger coils lhan the American. It is constructed entirely of oak or other hard 
wood, and is adjustable by means of a series of holes through the disk into which 
pegs are set. The transfer of wire Avill be greatly facilitated by securing the blade 
to the deck during the 0 ])eration by the means of screws, socket bolts, or other 
convenient method. 
TRANSFERRING AND MEASURING WIRE. 
The service reel is mounted on its machine, its face cleaned and oiled, hand cranks 
and register are shipped, and the latter carefully oiled and examined to see that it 
works propeily. 
The measuring reel is placed directly in the rear of the sounding machine, and 
the blade in the rear of the reel and in line with both. The sealed tin can in which 
the Avire is received is opened, a coil taken out, remoA'ed from the i)aper, and [)laced 
on the blade; the Avire stops are cut, the free end of the wire led out, and three turns 
taken around the measuring reel in such a manner that the register Avill count ahead 
during the transfer. The end is then taken to the service reel, and clinched through 
the hole provided for this purpose. The two men at the blade reel back the slack 
Avire, the recorder sets both registers at zero, and takes his station for reading the one 
on the measuring reel, the officer in charge watching that on the service reel. The 
cranks are manned and the transfer begins, the reel being turned at any desired speed. 
One of the men at the blade puts a tension on the wire by pressing his hand against 
the side of the blade. 
The recorder calls out “mark!” at every oO fathoms registered by the measuring 
reel, the officer in charge reads the register on the service reel at the same instant, 
and this being recorded the difference between the two readings shows the error at 
that ])oint. This process being carried on until the reel is filled, furnishes data from 
which a correction table is made, by which soundings Ciin be corrected readily by 
inspection. 
A correction table is always aAmilable for the same reel or any other of like 
dimensions, provided the wire is the same size and the amount does not exceed that 
for which the table Avas constructed. 
The necessary data having been obtained as above descrilied, it is advisable to 
construct a correction curve, frame it under glass, and hang it in some convenient 
