Pluto Lead is Godsend to Industry

Three huge coils of pipeline from the salvaging of 'Pluto', the historic pipeline that once fed millions of gallons of fuel and oil to the Allied invasion forces, after it was unloaded from the 'Empire Ridley' at Southampton. There are over 75 miles of line in the three coils. The salvage operation is in full swing between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg, and will provide thousands of tons of precious lead for industry. Two vessels of the Marine Salvage Company, the 'Empire Ridley' and the 'Empire Taw', are engaged on the task. They have lifted over 100 miles of line already, and some 300 miles remain yet on the sea bed. Each mile of piping weighs 63 tons, a fact which gives some idea of the vast amount of lead to be recovered. (Photo by Harry Todd/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)