320 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
THE TANNER SOUNDING MACHINE. 
This macbiue was devised by the writer in 1880, for use on board the United States 
Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawlc^ whicli was provided witli deep sea apparatus 
designed to operate in depths within 500 fathoms. It is a hand machine for sounding 
with wire, and can be operated by one man, but two will work more raindly, and, if 
sounding in 200 fathoms or more, time will be saved by liaving a relief at the cranks. 
Soundings in 800 fathoms have been made with the machine, and the reel has even a 
greater capacity, but it is lightly constructed and not intended to bear tlie crushing 
strain imposed upon it by working in greater depths. 
It is mounted at the stern of the Albatross abaft the Sigsbee machiue, carries 
about 500 fathoms of No. 21 music (Washburn & Moen) wire, with which an ordinary 
28-pound lead is used; it is kept in readiness for navigational i>urposes whenever the 
vessel is underway, and soundings within its capacity are quickly and accurately 
made by stopping and getting an up and-down cast, while from 70 to 100 fathoms may 
be readily reached without checking the speed by attaching a Bassnett atmospheric 
sounder or Sir William Thomson’s tube to the stray line. 
The Tanner machine is used also in deep-sea exploration in depths within 200 or 
oOO ftithoms, and while the Sigsbee machine is preferred in deeper water the former is 
occasionally used even in 500 fathoms. 
It is necessary to keep the wire taut when sounding with this machine as well as 
with others, for slack wire is liable to tly off the reel or kink, and the latter is usually 
followed by a break. 
The spindle a is made of iron, turned slightly tapering, screwed lirmly into the 
base of the frame h, and inclosed within a brass tube. There is a brass bearing on 
the rail throngh which the spindle passes, the lower end resting in the socket ji. The 
set screw q holds the machine in any desired position. 
The frame above mentioned is of brass, cast in one piece, is bored to receive the 
reel shaft, and has appropriate lugs for the iiawl and register. The reel d is of cast 
brass, 22.89 inches in diameter; tbe initial turns of wire equal 1 fathom, increasing as 
the score is filled, its capacity being about 2,000 fathoms of No. 11 music. 
Idle y friction groove, common to all sounding reels, is on the right tlange, and is 
part of the same casting. 
The cranlcs g, by which the reel is turned, have conical friction surfaces, which 
are brought into contact with similar surfaces on the ends of the reel shaft by moving 
the right crank one-half a revolution ahead, the left one remaining clamped at t, or 
held lirmly in the hand. The reverse motion releases the reel, allowing it to revolve 
freely without moving the cranks. On the left side, between the frame and crank, is 
a worm wheel which operates the register h. The ratchet and pawl are shown on the 
right, between the frame and crank. 
The arm c, which supports the guide pulley e, is of iron, hinged between lugs on 
the frame, and held in position by the pin i. The small metal reel-tackle block /, 
projecting from the arm, is jiart of a tackle for suspending the reel when mounting or 
dismounting. 
The guide pulleg e is of brass, with a V groove, the upper portion being covered 
with a guard to prevent the wire from dying off. The pulley is hung on a frame, 
having a spindle extending into the metal casing above, the small arm Ic being confined 
