Abstract: A method of continuously casting a liquid metal including the steps of providing an upper vessel and a lower vessel, providing a stream protection tube disposed between the upper vessel and the lower vessel, the stream protection tube being connected at an upper end thereof to a tap hole defined in a bottom portion of the upper vessel, the stream protection tube being open at a lower end thereof, at least one aperture being defined in a wall of the tube near the lower end. The method further includes disposing the upper vessel above the lower vessel, lowering the upper vessel until a lower portion of the tube disposed below the aperture is immersed in liquid metal contained in the lower vessel with the aperture being disposed above the liquid metal. Next, the tap hole is opened so that liquid metal disposed in the upper vessel flows into the stream protection tube, air contained in the tube is expelled through the aperture.