a sponge-bead, and are designed to
remove the cake usually caused by the adherence of the bottoms of the
cylinders to the bottom of the bore.

The edges of the scrapers are so bevelled as to act only when turned
to the right, or with the sun.

Scrapers are also to be supplied for rifled cannon, made to clean a
groove and the adjacent lands.

ORDINARY HANDSPIKES.

237. Handspikes are to be made of well-seasoned white hickory, of the
form and dimensions directed by the Bureau. They are always to be
shod, stained black, and oiled. The Ordnance Officer of the Navy Yard
will ascertain that they ship freely in the training-loops or sockets,
and that the toe is sufficiently rounded not to cut the decks when
held vertically.

DETAILS OF HANDSPIKES. | No. 1. | No. 2. | No. 3.
----------------------------------+--------+--------+--------
{ Total in. | 64. | 60. |
{ Square part in. | 20. | 20. |
Length { Octagon part in. | 6. | 6. |
{ Round part in. | 38. | 34. |
{ Shoe in. | 18. | 18. |
Diameter { of square in. | 2.75 | 2.50 |
{ of small end in. | 1.75 | 1.6 |
Radius of quarter round in. | 4.5 | 3.5 |
Weight lbs. | 16. | 12. |
----------------------------------+--------+--------+--------

ROLLER HANDSPIKES.

238. There are two sizes of roller handspikes: No. 1 for the IX-in.
shell-gun and 100-pdr. Marsilly, or two-truck carriage; No. 2 for all
other guns.

They are composed of--the head and socket of bronze, handle of
hickory, and the roller of lignum-vitae.

The boss on the head makes, with the handle, an angle of 70 deg., and,
when vertical, lifts the carriage half an inch (0.5).

Commander Beaumont's roller handspike has been adopted.

It is a common error of seamen to stoop, with a view of raising the
carriage higher. The lift is greatest when the end of the handle is at
the hip.

DETAILS OF ROLLER HANDSPIKES. | No. 1. | No. 2.
------------------------------------------------+---------+--------
{ Extreme in. | 70.5 | 66.
{ of handle in. | 63.0 | 62.5
Length { of socket in. | 12. | 7.5
{ of boss in. | 1.6 | 1.3
{ of boss from centre of