52 A HAUL WITH THE DRAG. 



may desire to " dredge the deep sea under," in Wey- 

 mouth Bay, as one who knows what is worth getting, 

 and where to get it. 



Well, here we are in the bight, just off the mouth 

 of Preston Valley, the only bit of pretty scenery any- 

 where near. This, however, is a little gem ; a verdant 

 dell opening to the sea, through which a streamlet 

 runs, with the sides and bottom covered with woods, 

 a rare feature in this neighbourhood. We are over 

 the Zostera ; the beds of dark-green grass are waving 

 in the heave of the swell, and we can make out the 

 long and narrow blades by closely looking down 

 beneath the shadow of the boat. Here, then, is the 

 place for the keer-drag. Down it goes, and sinks into 

 the long grass, while we slowly drag it for a couple of 

 hundred yards or so. 



When disposed to try our luck we hauled on the 

 rope, till we brought the mouth of the drag to the 

 top of the water; a turn or hitch was then taken 

 round a belaying pin with the two side-lines of the 

 bridle, and the point of the net only was then hauled 

 on board, put into a pan of water, and untied. Here 

 was congregated the chief part of the prey taken, and 

 hence the need of having the meshes so small in this 

 part. Out swam in a moment a good many little 

 fishes that haunt the grass-bed; as Pipe-fishes [Syn- 

 gnathus) of several species. Gobies [Gohms unipunc- 

 tatus, G. Ruthens])arri,&Q..), and bright-hued Conners 

 {Lahrus and Grenilahrus). With these were two or 

 three active and charming Cuttles [Sepiola) ; and 

 clinging to the meshes of the net in various parts, 

 were several species of Nudibranch Mollusca, creatures 



