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

DIVERS’ PAY AND HOURS OF WORK. The Working Hours depend upon the nature of the work, the depth of watei, and, if the job is abroad, the climatic conditions and their effect upon the health of the divers. On foreign works, therefore, it is usual for the engineers to regulate the hours according- to local conditions. In cases where time is worked in shifts (4 hours), the diver dresses in his own time, and is allowed a spell of fifteen minutes during the shift to rest, and fifteen minutes at the end of the shift for undressing'. I his applies to depths not exceeding 60 feet, and is subject to variation according to the nature of the work. A shift commences from the time the helmet is put on. HELMET DIVERS’ RATES OF PAY. On public works in England the rate of pay to Helmet Divers is from 2s. to 2S. 6d. an hour. In some cases, however, the men are paid a standing wage of about 30s. to £2 per week, and an extra is. 6d. an hour when diving ; when not diving they make themselves useful about the works. In the case of Well Work, Flooded Mines, Salvage Operations, etc., the pay depends upon the depth of water and the risk incurred. Well Work : from 14s. to 20s. a shift. Flooded Mines : from 20s. to 40s. a shift. Salvage Work (ship raising) : In some cases where vessels are sunk in shallow water, the divers are paid a standing wage of 20s. a day, “ work or play ” ; in others the pay may be a standing wage of £2 a week, plus an extra sum per hour when diving ; or the men may be paid for diving time only, from 20s. a tide and upwards. In cases where the diver pro- vides his own apparatus and linesman, he may get 40s. per shift 01 tide. In cases of Deep Sea Salvage (Cargo and Treasure recovery) the divers are sometimes paid a weekly wage, plus a percentage on the value recovered, calculated according- to the depth of water, etc. In the case of the Alphonso XII and the Skyro operations, Lambert and Erostarbe received £40 and £30 a month respectively, plus 5 percent, of the value of the specie they brought up. Lambert salved ^70,000, Eros- tarbe £10,000. BELL DIVERS. The rate of pay for Diving Bell men is usually from is. to is. 2d. an hour. 64