rest upon
the charge.

485. The friction-tube is not put into the vent until the piece is
about to be fired.

FUZES.

486. The wooden fuzes used at present for the 13-inch bombs are in
sections, and marked according to the estimated distance in practice,
viz.:

Seven inches extreme length; and each section one inch, giving a
flight for every section of seven seconds, and a total of forty-nine
seconds.

487. The plugs are of the proper size for the fuze-hole; the axis
bored cylindrically from the large end down, to within a short
distance of the small end, which is left solid; the orifice is filled
with composition pressed hard and evenly as possible. At the large end
a cup is hollowed out and filled with mealed powder moistened with
alcohol.

488. The rate of burning is ascertained by experiment, and marked on a
water-proof cap, which is tied over the cup.

489. A fuze-saw must be at hand during practice to cut the fuze the
required length.

490. Fuzes for sea-coast mortars are also driven in a conical paper
case, which is inserted in a metal or wooden plug previously driven in
the fuze-hole and accurately reamed out.

491. The paper-case fuze is marked with the number of seconds it burns
per inch, and it may be cut, where no danger from ignition can take
place, with a sharp knife.

PROCESS OF FILLING BOMBS.

492. Having been inspected to see that they are clean and dry, place
the bombs on a block made for the purpose, or on grommets of rope, or
on the ground, with the eyes up. The charge, having been carefully
measured, is then poured into the chamber through a funnel, while, at
the same time, the fuze is cut to the proper length by resting it on a
groove made in the block, and sawing it across. The fuze is then tried
in the hole, and should enter 3/4ths of its length; if it does not, it
must be reduced by rasping.

493. The head of the fuze having been covered with tow to prevent
breaking the composition, the fuze-setter is placed on it, and the
fuze driven with the mallet until the head is about 2/10ths of an inch
above the surface of the bomb.

POINTING MORTARS.

494. First give the elevation by applying the quadrant to the face of
the piece, and adjusting the quoin or ratchet until the required
number of degrees is obtained.

495. In pointing mortars on shore, it is an easy matter to get the
direction, because the mortar is stationary; but on shipboard, owing
to the motion, it is atten