Submarine Appliances And Their Uses
Deep Sea Diving, &c., &c.

Shot-belt.—This belt, weighing 45lbs., is made of stout canvas, weighted with slabs of lead. It may be used instead of the back and front weights when working about a ship’s bottom, or it may be worn in addition to the back and front weights when working in a very strong tideway. The belt is fitted with rope braces which come over the shoulders and are secured in front. Some belts are made with the leaden slabs in pockets, so that the weight can be adjusted to requirements. Boots.—The boots are of stout leather, with wooden soles, to which are riveted lead soles, the weight of each boot being about i61bs. ; metal toe-caps are also fitted. Straps and metal eyelets for lanyards are provided for lacing on the boots. Brass boots with renewable leather uppers are sometimes used. Overall Dresses.—Canvas overalls (combination suits) are supplied to be worn outside the diving dress for protecting it when rough work has to be done. They are made to fasten at the back, and in front is a large pocket in which the diver can carry tools, etc. These overalls are also made with the jacket and trousers separate. Shoulder Pad.—The helmet cushion, or .shoulder pad, is worn on the shoulders inside the dress, and protects the body from the weight of the helmet and corselet. Ladder.—An iron ladder should be provided by which the diver goes out of and comes into the boat; in addition to the hooks on the ladder which fit on the gunwale, the upper part should be secured by a lashing. A small rounded spar to rest under the width of the ladder outside the gunwale will give the necessary inclination to the ladder, and also protect the gunwale of the boat. Shot-rope.—This should be kept with the diving gear. Twenty or thirty fathoms of hemp rope, not smaller than three inch, should be spliced to a fifty-pound sinker. The distance-line, consisting of about 5 fathoms of ijin. line, should be spliced in, about 3ft. above the sinker. Both the shot-rope and distance-line should be of brown (tanned) rope, which will not be found slippery under water. Lamp for Divers.—The diving lamp should be placed under water before being switched on, to prevent the glass shade from being' broken through being plunged into cold water after becoming heated. Telephone {Single Diver 'type}, Photo 17. —- This apparatus consists of a wooden box containing the following gear A battery of eight wet or dry cells, tele- phone transmitter and receiver for the use of attendants, a wrench, and a spanner for nuts.