DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION. 
385 
STATIONS— WIRE GOING DOWN. 
The officer of the deck having taken his station on the grating to the right and 
abaft the nia(;hine, directs the sinker to be lowered a fathom below the surface of 
the water, the auxiliary lead bent to the stray line, the thermometer clamped a 
fathom above it, and the water-specimen cup a fathom above the latter, having first 
satisfied himself that the instruments are in perfect order. When everything is in 
readiness he directs the pawl to be thrown back, the crank unshipped, and gives the 
order to lower awajL 
No. 1, standing forward of the machine and facing it, attends the friction rope and 
makes the sounding as quickly as possible, having due regard for the safety of the 
apparatus. As soon as the sinker reaches bottom, and No. 2 has shipped his crank, 
No. 1 throws off the friction ro]>e, ships the left crank, and assists in heaving the 
specimen cup clear of the bottom. 
No. 2, on tlie right of the machine and facing it, attends the auxiliary brake in 
case of accident to the friction rope, or if the reel becomes unmanageable from any 
cause. As soon as the sinker strikes the bottom he ships the crank, heaves in a few 
fathoms of wire, and, when it is ascertained that the sinker is detached, he unships 
the crank, adjusts the dynamometer staff under the accumulator pulley, and assists 
in iiuttiug on the belt. 
No. 3, seated on the grating to the left and abaft the machine, attends the swivel 
jiulley, and, if the wire is accidentally slackened by the sinker unexitectedly striking- 
bottom, grasps the bight and pulls it aft, taking up a fathom or more, which is often 
sufficient to prevent kinking or fiying off the reel. When the sinker is down, he feels 
the wire to see whether it is detached, then assists No. 2 in adjusting the dynamometer 
staff. 
No. 4 stands -forward and to the left of the machine until he wishes to pre])are the 
engine for reeling iii, Avhen he moves about it, as occasion requires, keeping out of the 
way of No. 1. 
In case the sinker fails to detach, the officer or No. 3 iiulls the bight of the wire 
aft from the machine, then lets it go, repeating the operation several times if necessary; 
and, if it still fails to detach. Nos. 1 and 2 shii> the cranks and heave the sinker clear of 
the bottom, then carefully land it again, when the manipulation of the wire is repeated. 
The sinker should not be landed on the bottom abruptly when trying to detach it, 
for, as a rule, the trouble results from its having sunk dee])ly into the soft ooze. 
STATIONS— WIRE COMING UP. 
No. 1 stands on the left of the machine abreast of the reel (plate xl), and, with 
sponge or rag, oils the wire as it comes in. When the stray line is sighted, and 
the reeling engine stopped, he throws the pawl into action, ships the crank, and assists 
in reeling it in l>y hand. 
No. 2, standing on the right of the machine, guides the wire smoothly on the reel, 
reports defective splices, nips, or kinks, and attends the auxiliary brake in case of 
accident to the belt. When the stray line is sighted he ships the crank and heaves it 
in by hand; then assists No. 4 to remove the belt from the reel. 
No. 3, standing or sitting on the grating to the left and abaft the machine, attends 
the swivel pulley leading the wire fairly into its score. He warns No. 4 to stop the 
reeling engine if he discovers anything unusual or suspicious on the wire as it is 
F. C. B. 1896—25 
