CABLE SHIPS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9596, 7 February 1910, Page 6

CABLE SHIPS.

The ships engaged in laying aud repairing the cables which stretch along the ocean bed are kept iv splendid order. Among the uniformed officers and crew strict discipline is always maintained, aud every other feature of expert navigation is evident.

The cable is coiled away iv iron fcaiifes, situated iv what would be the hold of a cargo-ship. There are numerous machines upou deck for the proper handling of (he heavy cablos. Tlie big, funnel-like objects liuiug the bulwarks iv places are buoys, useful in marking locations. The ships have really three crews or departments, each with its separate chiefs aurl officers. Nevertheless, they must all work iv harmony, ouo with the otner, or things will go wrong. There is the steamship crew—captain, engiueers, mates, quarter-masters, stokers, decs-hands, cooks, and stewards; but even these men must be experience! in the special difficulties of navigation and labour with which they have to contend. Then there is a certain corps who have to do with the actual cable laying, picking up, buoying, etc., although, quite naturally, they are aided by tuo rest as occasion demands.

Last of all ou the list, but certainly not in importance, are tho electricians, charged with the testing and calculating, which must go on continuously while the ship is at work, in order to prevent costly mistakes.