PURPOSE: To adequately maintain the temp. of copper anodes and to prevent the generation of shape defects by controlling the opening and closing of control valves in accordance with the temp. of a molten metal at the time of casting and the surface temp. of the copper anodes cooled after casting.

CONSTITUTION: A computer reads out the temp. of the molten metal in a storage trough at the time of casting the copper anodes, calculates the temp. fall rate from a difference from the copper anode temp., and determines the spraying pattern of the cooling water to the copper anodes to be cast afterward, i.e., the time of opening the number of the control valves 9 in accordance therewith. Opening/closing signals are outputted to the control valves 9 and the copper anode cooling water of the proper volume is sprayed according to the calculated spraying pattern. The copper anodes are cooled to the adequate temp. in this way.