OCR Text |
Show DIVING FOR AMBER. The labor required is of the severest kind. The costume of the diver is as follows: A woolen garment covers the entire body. This is again encompassed by an India rubber dress, made in one piece, but differing in shape from the old-fashioned diving-dress, and allowing the diver to lie at full length. The helmet also is of a novel construction. Firmly fastened to it, and resting on the shoulders, is a small air-chest, made of sheet-iron. This chest is connected with the air-pump in the boat above by an India-rubber tubing, forty feet long, and with the diver's lungs by another India-rubber tube, the mouth-piece of which is held by the diver between his teeth; the whole apparatus being scientifically arranged so as to admit a sufficient supply of pure air from above, and means of exit for the expired breath. The helmet is provided with three openings, covered with glass, and protected by wire, for the use of the eyes and mouth. When this contrivance has been screwed on to the person of the diver, a rope tied his waist, and half a hundred of lead attached to the feet, shoulders, and helmet, he is ready for his plunge. Down, fathoms deep, he descends into the amber world. He stays there-maybe for five hours at a time-hooking, dragging, tearing the amber from its bed with his heavy two-pronged fork. Often it resists his utmost efforts. However cold the weather may be those men of iron strength will come up from their submarine labor, streaming with perspiration. The overseer stands in the boat to receive the amber from their pockets. In case he should wish to ascend before the usual time, the diver has to close his mouth and breath five or six times through his nostrils, by this means filling the apparatus with air, which will bring him to the surface without other assistance. The diving boats are manned by eight men each-two divers, two pairs of men who work the air pumps alternately, with their eyes fixed on a dial-plate, by which the supply of air is nicely regulated; one man to hold the safety rope attached round the diver's body and haul him up at the slightest sign from below, and the overseer. |