Reporter's Statement of the Case sheaves carrying the launching cables over the curved portion of the ways. The supply of launching cable is carried on drums 34 journaled on the barge at the head of the ways, there being one drum for each pair of ways, and each cable passes from its drum around a pulley 35, then back and forth several times around a pair of grooved friction sheaves 36, 37, and around another pulley 38 which directs it between the ways and over the launching sheaves 29. Along the offshore side of the barge there is provided a track running fore and aft upon which is mounted a traveling crane 23 which serves to move the revetment sections from the material barge to the launching barge. After being transferred to the launching barge, the revetment sections are placed on the ways and the border strands fastened to the launching cables. Control of the movement of the barge outwardly from the shore during the launching operation is obtained by means of power-operated capstans, 14, 15, on the launching barge connected to cables 16 and 17 running over pulleys on the launching barge and thence to a fixed point on the mooring barge, so that upon operation of the capstans the launching barge is drawn outwardly into the stream, and simultaneously the mat is lowered over the ways on the shore side and into the water. Control of the passage of the mat into the water is effected by means of the friction sheaves 36 at the top of the ways around which the launching cables pass, and which are driven in unison by connecting gears from a main drive shaft extending longitudinally of the barge and driven by an engine 44 through interposed gearing. Brakes operated by steam cylinder 50 are also provided on the friction sheaves 36, 37, and on drums 34 for the purpose of keeping the cables taut between the drums and the friction sheaves during the unwinding of the cables. In this manner, as the launching barge is drawn out from the shore, the mat is paid out over the shore side of the barge at the desired rate of speed. By attaching additional sections of mat to the launching cable as the barge is worked outwardly into the stream, the mat may be laid as far out Reporter's Statement of the Case into the stream as desired. During launching the weight of the slabs on the inclined portion of the ways is carried upon the rollers 28, that of the slabs passing over the arcuate portion of the ways partly by the rollers and partly by the launching cables, and that of the slabs which have left the ways but not yet reached bottom by the launching cable, so that the border strands and individual slabs never are called upon to support more than the weight of one slab. 8. During January and February 1917 certain revetments were placed by defendant in the Vicksburg, Mississippi, harbor and subsequently, but prior to May 9, 1917, at Red Fork, Arkansas, having the construction shown by plate 13 of plaintiff's exhibit 5, reproduced herewith on opposite page. 9. During the time and at the places stated in finding 8, the defendant had at hand, and used, in casting the concrete revetment mentioned in finding 8, certain revetment molds or forms having the construction shown by photograph No. 17, of plaintiff's exhibit 6, reproduced herewith. 10. Subsequent to June 5, 1917, and prior to the filing of the petition herein the defendant had at hand, and used in the United States in sinking concrete revetment mats, apparatus having the construction shown in plates 15 and 17, of plaintiff's exhibit 5, reproduced herewith. 11. For many years prior to the application for the patents in suit, it was customary to protect the subaqueous banks of the Mississippi River by means of so-called fascine mattresses or mats, the construction of which and the apparatus for laying which are shown in defendant's exhibits 25 and 26, and 78 and 79, reproduced herewith. Defendant's exhibit 25 is the same as 78, and 26 the same as 79. Such mats and apparatus are also shown in plaintiff's exhibit P-5, pages 11 to 16, inclusive, plates 8, 9, and 10. The said fascine mattresses or mats consisted of bundles of willow brush about 8 feet long and 12 inches in diameter, tightly compressed and wired together at intervals. The bundles of willows so formed and lashed together resembled a raft and floated after launching, requiring to be sunk in the desired position by the distribution of stone ballast over them. In applying such protection to the river bank, |