CABLE (continued)

By what has been said on this subject, we may see how very necessary it is to furnish a ship with sufficiency of cables, or what is called ground-tackle and what an inconsiderate policy it is in merchants to expose their vessels to such evident dangers from the want of them. For we may venture to assert, without violation of truth, that. many good ships have been lost only on account of a deficiency in this important article.

A cable ought neither to be twisted too much nor too little; as in the former state it will be extremely stiff, and difficult to manage; and in the latter, it will be considerably diminished in it's strength.

All cables are to each other as the cubes of their diameters.

The number of threads also, of which each cable is composed, being always proportioned to it's length and thickness, the weight and value of it are determined by this number. Thus a cable of ten inches in circumference ought to consist of four hundred and eighty-five threads; and weigh one thousand nine hundred and forty pounds: and on this foundation is calculated the following table, very useful for all persons engaged in marine commerce, who equip merchant-ships on their own account, or freight them for the account of others.

A table of the number of threads and weight of cables of different circumference.

Reference Works