WAKING AND LAVING SUBMARINE CABLES. 185 
well secured, goes down one of the iron ladders attached to the 
ship’s side, and he files through the cable wires, one after 
another, until they are weak enough to break off. The part 
fastened to the slack chain then falls into the sea, but is still 
accessible. The portion attached to the tight chain is dragged 
on board by means of a windlass. The electrical tests imme¬ 
diately indicate whether this part is in connection with the 
Fig. 124.—Buoying the Cable. 
shore or with the ruptured end. If the part communicates 
with the land, signals are telegraphed, and sometimes the result 
of the operations is described; and by making the proper 
electrical tests the exact distance of the ship from the land can 
be determined. The end of the cable is then carefully sealed 
up so as to prevent the water from penetrating within, and it 
is dropped into the sea with the anchor and buoy as already 
described. 
The chain attached to the short part of the cable is then 
raised, with the piece of cable, the length of which may be a 
