A. The mooring-cables are cut off with square ends and the ends passed through the holes in the mooring-sockets. The strand and wires are untwisted and spread out for a length equal to the length of the socket-hole. The rope is then pulled back until the loose ends are about flush with the top edge of the hole; a piece of marline is tied about the rope below the socket. If necessary to hold the socket a piece of burlap may be wrapped around below the socket and a fold allowed to fall over the hand. Generally means can be found to set the socket upright while pouring full of alloy. Great care must be taken to see that there is no water or surplus oil on the socket or mooring-rope before pouring the alloy. (Nine parts lead, 1 part antimony.)
Mines are planted with a submergence of 5 feet below mean low water.
Where ordinary anchors are used the mooring-ropes must be prepared for depths obtained by sounding. If sockets are used, the ropes for No. 32 cases are but 10 feet less than the ascertained depths at mean low water. This allows 5 feet for submergence and 5 feet for mine, mine bail, sockets, shackles, and anchor. For the larger mine cases an additional allowance must be made for the length of the cylindrical part of the case. Finally each mooring-rope is tagged at each end with the number of the corresponding mine.
Mine cables are cut to the following lengths, plus twice the approximate depth of the water:
| Feet. | ||
| No. | 1 | 1425 |
| No. | 2 | 1225 |
| No. | 3 | 1025 |
| No. | 4 | 825 |
| No. | 5 | 725 |
| No. | 6 | 625 |
| No. | 7 | 525 |
| No. | 8 | 475 |
| No. | 9 | 425 |
| No. | 10 | 375 |
| No. | 11 | 425 |
| No. | 12 | 475 |
| No. | 13 | 525 |
| No. | 14 | 625 |
| No. | 15 | 725 |
| No. | 16 | 825 |
| No. | 17 | 1025 |
| No. | 18 | 1225 |
| No. | 19 | 1425 |
Each end of each cable is tagged with the number of the corresponding mine.
MATERIAL FOR AND DUTIES ON THE WATER.
Q. What apparatus is taken out on the distribution-box boat?
A. One distribution-box, 1 buoy for same, 1 mooring-rope for attaching buoy to distribution-box, 1 anchor sufficiently heavy to hold distribution-box boat, 1 anchor buoy (keg), and rope for same, 2 anchor shackles (1 for anchor and 1 for box), 1 pair field glasses, alcohol, 2 alcohol lamps, cable tags, Turk's head, collars, cotton waste, 2 files, 2 hammers, 2 heavy lines, knives, marline, 2 marline spikes, 1 megaphone, 2 monkey wrenches, 2 pliers, protective tape, rubber cement, rubber tape, 2 scissors, tin-foil, telephone, brass connectors, lashings.