386 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
coming in, also wlien lie sights the stray line. He unclamps the water-specimen cup 
and thermometer, unbends the auxiliary lead, liitches the end of the stray line to the 
fair-leader, and unships tlie dynamometer staff. He also delivers the bottom specimen 
to a naturalist in the laboratory, washes the specimen cup, and returns it to its place 
near the sounding machine. 
No, 4, stationed forward of machine, adjusts the belt, attends the belt-tightener, 
and runs the reeling engine. Fixing liis eye upon the dynamometer scale, he reels tlie 
wire in as rajiidly as possible, keeping within the prescribed tension ; and it reiptires a 
dexterous manipulation of the throttle to regulate the speed according to the rapidly 
varying strains. He reduces the speed of the reeling engine at 200 turns, and again at 
100, to avoid jumiiiug the thermometer and specimen cup out of the water, and, stop- 
l)ing when the stray line is sighted, he loosens the belt-tightener, throws off the belt, 
wipes up the oil about the engine, and iwepares it for the next cast. 
The crew examine the stray line and its splice, the surface wire on the reel, and 
all parts of the sounding machine, Avhich they Avipe carefully; the bearings are oiled, 
deck around the machine cleauetl up, and everything put in place. 
STATION AND DUTIES OF THE REOOEDER. 
He takes lus i>lace at the right of the machine Avliere he can best observe the 
readings of the register. He keeps a record of everything connected with the sound- 
ing, filling the blanks in the record book, and making such further entries as the 
occasion requires. Having assured himself that the recording Avatch agrees Avith the 
ship’s clock, he will note : 
1. Tlie (late, day of the month, and year. 
2. The serial numher of the sounding. 
3. The machine to he used, Sigshee or Tanner. 
4. The reel used, Sigshee, Navy, or Tanner. 
5. The kind of sinker used : A deep-sea lead, giv- 
ing its weight; a 35-pound or GO-pound shot. 
6. Reading of the patent log, when it is hauled 
in after the vessel stops to sound. 
7. Hour, minute, and second, the sinker starts 
down. 
8. The minutes and seconds for each 100 turns of 
wire, as shown hy the register. 
9. The exact time the sinker strikes hottom. 
10. The numher of turns of wire out wheu the 
sinker reaches hottom. 
11. Correction to he added to the numher of turns 
to get the depth in fathoms. 
12. Depth in fathoms. 
13. Time of starting to reel in the wire. 
14. If the patent log is put over, note the time and 
read it wheu vessel reaches her course. 
15. Time for each 100 turns of wire coming in. 
16. Time wire is all iii. 
17. Reading of deep-sea thermometer. 
18. Maker’s numher of thermometer. 
19. Thermometer correction. 
20. Corrected temperature. 
21. Reading of patent log Avhen last turn of wire 
came in. 
22. Character of liottom. 
23. Note if Avater specimen was taken. 
24. Any unusual occurrence, such as fouling, kink- 
ing, running off the reel, or parting the vdre ; 
slack turns; loss of the stray line; delay in 
detaching the sinker; injury to or loss of 
instruments; discovery of imperfect splices, 
or detention from any cause. 
The speed of deep-sea sounding varies with the meteorological conditions, char- 
acter of vessel, apparatus, personnel, and the purpose for Avhich the soundings are 
required. Time Avill be gained if the deep-sea thermometer can be dispensed with, 
and a greater gain will follow by using a cup of less weight and cross-section where a 
small bottom specimen will suffice. 
Table I is taken from the original record of sounding No. 424, Hawaiian cable 
survey, December 18, 1891, and shoAvs the rate of descent and ascent of the Avire for 
each 100 turns of tlie reel and must not be mistaken for fathoms. The time interAmls 
Avere kept with the greatest care as a matter of record, not for the guidance or 
