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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



The Diver going down the Ladder. 



if he pushes the shucking-chisel under the expanded foot before the 

 animal is alarmed. If, however, the diver hesitates and the abalone 

 contracts its muscular foot a powerful pressure is exerted. One or two 

 cases have been reported of the drowning of Chinese fishermen who 

 have had their hands caught by the abalone and thus held until over- 

 come by the rising tide. The diver secures a net full of abalones, gives 

 the signal and the mollusks are hoisted aboard and stowed below. The 

 net, filled with about fifty green and corrugated abalones may be hauled 

 up every six or seven minutes. During his shift below the diver gathers 

 from thirty to forty basketfuls, each containing one hundred pounds of 

 meat and shell, or altogether one and one half to two tons. 



At Santa Catalina Island and later at San Clemente Island in 

 company with a Japanese diver, I donned a diving-dress for submarine 

 exploration. On one occasion the assistant failed to tighten the waist- 

 belt which is designed to keep the air in the upper part of the diving- 

 dress. The men at the pump worked with especial assiduity and as I 

 dropped off the ladder the inflated rubber trousers turned my feet 

 uppermost. Head down I went through sixty-five feet of water and 

 then, not in a position for quiet reflection, remained some moments 

 before the Japanese assistants concluded that my signals were not being 

 made just for the fun of it. After being pulled to the surface, reversed 

 and relieved of inferior inflation, a successful descent was made. The 

 submarine journey is a wonderful experience. The bottom of the sea 



