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

Another method is by means of a stage, which is very quickly made, and has been found very suitable for this purpose, or for coppering ship’s bottom to any large extent. It consists of three spars, two of which may be from 20 to 25 feet long ; the other the hanging spar, about 16 feet. The two long spars are suspended from each other about 4 feet apart, by means of rounding, the bights being- clove hitched to each end of the spar, and the ends forming the top and bottom lines ; the top lines are to take the weight of the stage, and the bottom lines for hauling it down and bind- ing it into the ship’s side; the third or shot spar is hung to the lower of the two spars by means of two rope tails, and is weighted in the centre by a slung shot, so as to keep it in a horizontal position about 3 feet below the lower long spar; sufficient weight must be hung to the stage to overcome its buoyancy. To prevent the stage being bound too close to the ship’s side, crosses of wood can be used, made from any rough pieces about 3 j feet long, 3 inches broad, and 1 inch thick, lashed together in the form of a cross, with sufficient space for the spar to pass through ; one of these crosses is secured at each end of the upper spar ; a small cleat nailed on the spar prevents them from slipping inwards, and the clove hitches of the stage ropes prevent them from slipping outwards. By this method two divers starting from the ends of the stage, and working towards each other can cover a good space in each fleet. When a fleet is finished the stage should be lowered bodily, the divers at each end making their own signals when the stage is placed ; the bottom lines are steadied taut on vertical parts of the bide, -and hauled well taut as the stage reaches the bilge. On reaching the keel the divers should come to the surface, and the stage should be fleeted along as far as they have cleaned, all ropes being kept directly in line with the stage, and, if working from forward aft, the foremost line should take the place that the after line had before fleeting. By this means no ground will be passed over. When the stage is placed roughly in position the divers get on it and make the necessary signals to correct its position. Practised divers can work from four to eight hours daily below the bottom of a vessel, and can clean from seven to twelve square yards per hour, according to the condition of the bottom. Good scrubbing brushes can be made from the bottoms of ordinary long- handled deck scrubbers, sawn in two, and fitted with lanyards for securing to the diver. If the bottom is foul with small barnacles, the wooden part of the brush should be used to remove them ; a scraper should only be employed when the bottom is very foul. Clearing Fouled Propellers and Valves. Propellers usually get fouled by rope or wire hawsers, and at times are very difficult to clear. A stage should be rigged near the fouled part (a small iron grating answers the purpose) to enable the diver to work in comfort. 57