Mine-layers

Mine-layers: A term used to describe a ship, not necessarily built for naval purposes, which carries a cargo of explosive floating mines and disposes of them at various points in the vicinity of harbours and in shallow seas. These mines are so constructed that they explode on coming into contact with a vessel. These acts of hostility are circumvented by means of mine trawlers, which during the war have been steam trawlers specially commissioned by the British Admiralty for purposes of sweeping the seas where mines are suspected to be laid.