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

If the wire has to be shackled on to an anchor, the following procedure will often be found the best :— The wire is prepared by fitting a large shackle to the eye and by stopping another shackle with its crown against the wire a short distance above the eye. The pins of both shackles should be fitted with lanyards to prevent their loss under water. The wire is shackled to the shot rope or the anchor buoy rope (if watching) by the upper shackle, which acts as a traveller, leaving the end of the wire free for the diver to handle. When the diver has found the anchor, he signals for the wire, which is carefully paid down to him ; great care must be taken to prevent the wire from being dropped on the diver, or too much being paid out, since large flakes on the bottom render it diffi- cult to find the end, and may foul the diver. After shackling on, the diver comes up be- fore any attempt is made to weigh the anchor. Where an anchor or other article is deeply embedded in the sea bottom, and is difficult to move, it will be found of great assistance if one end of a hose pipe be con- nected up to a pump, the other end, fitted with a nozzle, being directed on to the sur- rounding sand, etc. With a good pressure through the nozzle, the object will soon be released. Diving Apparatus in case of Fire. In cases where proper Smoke Helmets are not available, the diving gear pro- vides a good, safe, smoke helmet for use in case of fire, or in bunkers, double bottoms, etc., where poisonous gases may have accumulated. A fearnought jumper should be made, fitted at the neck to take over the studs of the breastplate, and at the bottom and cuffs, fitted with strings to tie the jumper close to the body and wrists. The jumper should be kept attached to the breastplate when the diving gear is not in use, and kept in a convenient place near the air pump, with the helmet and air pipe screwed on, so as to be immediately available in case of emer- gency. In case of fire any man can put on the jumper and proceed to the fire, other men following with the pump and placing it in position ; the air pipe from the helmet is screwed on to the pump, when, with a man to heave round, the fireman will get a plentiful supply of air. Ji He should, of course, wear boots, and his outer clothes should be wetted. o o