For the work on the water there will be needed five boats, viz., a mine planter or suitably fitted-up heavy tug, a small tug or heavy launch called the distribution box boat, and three launches or yawls. The capacity of the planter is such that a group of 19 mines can be handled at one time. The instructions to be observed by the master of a mine planter in marking out a mine field and in planting mines are to be found in Appendix No. 6. =Determining location for distribution box.=—From an examination of the chart, or of the approved scheme for mining, the locations of the lines and groups of mines are determined. A distribution box is to be placed about 350 feet in rear of the center of each group of mines. The locations for the distribution boxes are marked on the plotting board and their azimuths from each of the ends of the horizontal base or their azimuth and range from the vertical base station are determined. =Marking location of distribution box.=—An anchor with buoy attached is placed upon the deck of a small tug and carried out to one of the selected spots. By a system of signals the boat is directed to the location determined and there the anchor is thrown overboard. The locations for the other distribution boxes are marked in a like manner. =Laying multiple cable.=—The cable-reel is placed upon the forward deck of the planter and raised on the jacks. The planter then proceeds as near the mining casemate as the depth of water permits, and one end of the cable is passed ashore, either by a launch, by yawls, or by any other suitable method. In case the planter can not approach nearer the shore than 100 yards it will be necessary to coil more than enough cable to reach the shore in a figure of eight in a yawl, which is then towed toward the desired point on shore, the men aboard the yawl paying out the cable as it proceeds. This end is drawn in through the conduit or gallery to the casemate or terminal hut. It may be secured by taking a telegraph hitch around it with a chain and spiking the chain to some heavy timbers or fastening it to some holdfast. When cable ends have already been laid they will be picked up and joined to the multiple cable for the groups. The shore end having been secured, the planter moves out to the position of the distribution box, unreeling the cable as it goes. If the water be very deep, a friction brake must be extemporized to prevent the reel from overrunning. (While the planter is laying the cable, the casemate party tags and attaches the shore end as explained later.) To prevent kinks as far as possible cable should be laid with as much tension as practicable.