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

not get up against the tide, past the shot rope, search the lee side thoroughly, and leave the other till slack water. Working on a Ship's Bottom.—Whenever working ata ship’s bottom, never run the risk of falling off; always have something substantial to hang on to, and make your attendant keep the pipe and breast rope well in hand. Do not go under the ship and up the other side, but ask for the boat to be shifted. The weighted belt may be found more convenient than the ordinary breast and back weights for this kind of work. Going to the Assistance of a Fouled Diver.—In going to the assistance of a fouled diver, descend, keeping his breast rope in hand; by this means you may trace the cause of his being foul. Be careful not to complicate matters by getting turns round his rope and pipe. Cold Weather.—In very cold weather wear extra flannels; go down and work till the hands are chilled, then come up and get them rubbed till the circulation returns and they begin to glow; go down again, and it will be found possible to work for a much longer period before they become numbed again. Wool-lined waterproof gloves are pro\ ided, and should be worn if convenient, but see that when wearing them you can control the outlet valve easily. Use of the Fap (called “ Excess-air Cock,” or “Spit-cock/’) on the Hel- me i. Moisture condenses on the front glass of the helmet and makes it difficult to see. A mouthful of water can be sucked in through the tap and then spurted over the inside of the glass, washing it down and making all clear again. Water which may perchance have leaked in at the collar of the dress and flowed into the helmet while the diver was lying on his face may be baled up by the mouth and ejected through the tap, which course is generally preferable to allowing it to run down and wet the body when the diver stands up again. I he tap is occasionally useful as an auxiliary to the outlet valve in adjusting the escape of air, especially when the diver is lying- on his back. Slipping j he Weights in case of Emergency.—The weights can easily be slipped, the lanyard round the waist being let go first, and then the bow hitches cast off. I he only occasion on which a diver might find it necessary to do this would be when an accident had occurred to the air pipe or pump, which would prevent him getting enough air in the dress to go up otherwise. The weights must not be slipped except as a last resource, as the diver is helpless without them. If Diver Blown Up.—If blown up and lying on the surface, don’t open up your valve unless you have a good hold on something-, or the attendants have got in the slack of the breast rope and pipe and can hold you up. Dropping down into deep water is more dangerous than blowing up. A diver who has come to the surface in this 55