Protection of submarine cables by placement “underground”

DAMAGE estimated at $500,000 a year is caused to the transoceanic telegraph cables of the world by the heavy drags or otterboards which are attached to fishing nets dragged along the ocean bottom by steam trawlers. To protect cables in waters where they are exposed to this hazard and thereby reduce this loss, a plow has been devised by engineers of the Western Union Telegraph Company which when pulled along the ocean bottom is expected to cut a furrow, drop the cable into it, and back fill over the cable. The first cables scheduled to be plowed under are in the fishing banks off the coast of Ireland, where damage is particularly severe.