Winching the heavy corer down and back required tag-teams at the crank. A few trial stations were occupied while the equipment was 'tuned' and technique was 'perfected'. Disaster stuck moments later when the first 'full' core returned to the surface. The high tech synthetic rope chosen especially for its tenacity parted at the head block sending the principal sampling tool to the lake bottom for good. Overstressing during shore side testing was suspected as the rope snapped at about one half of its rated strength.
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