CAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED.
Men operating tripping hooks keep their feet free from all cable. Men on after deck must keep entirely free of all cable while being spent when planter is passing from distribution-box boat to mine buoy.
If dynamite is used as explosive all mines should be covered with paulines or burlap to protect them from the direct rays of the sun.
Q. Name the apparatus on the boat used in planting mines.
A. Derricks, catheads, snatch-blocks, steam-winches, insulated cable, cable-drum frames, circuit detector, boat-hooks, sounding-lines graduated to feet, davits, differential blocks, mooring-ropes, raising-ropes, buoyant mines and anchors, shackles and extra split pins for same, lashing-rope, alcohol, 2 alcohol lamps, 1 cable cutter, cable tags, Turk's head, collars, cotton waste, 4 files, 4 hammers, 6 heaving-lines, knives, marline, 2 marline spikes, 1 megaphone, 2 monkey wrenches, 4 pliers, protective tape, rope, rubber cement, rubber tape, 2 scissors, 1 set of stencil numbers, tin-foil, and a measuring line which has marks every 100 feet, with double marks at 300 and 600 feet.
Q. Give a method for marking the positions at which mines are to be planted.
A. The distribution-box is located first, a buoy and anchor being used as the mark. The center point of the group is located next, then the two ends of the group. The launch is directed over the spot selected from the map for the distribution-point by means of base-end instruments at the primary and secondary stations (these two instruments being set at the azimuth of the selected spot), and by signals from these stations the launch drops the anchor and buoy when it is at the intersection of the vertical cross-wires of each instrument. The launch marks the center of the group by moving approximately perpendicular to the line of mines to the desired distance. The line of mines is then determined by taking bearings and objects on shore (previously determined from the map) or by a similar method to that of locating the distribution-box buoy. Small planting-buoys are used for this purpose. The distribution-box buoy is usually a large keg or vinegar-barrel.
Q. How are soundings made?
A. By starting from either end of the "located group" and making a sounding at every 100 feet.