side of the boat, and has a rail about 3 inches high on each side, with the 

 ends left open. This is placed across the back of the boat, leaving space 

 for the men to stand between it and the end of the boat, unless there is a 

 small deck, as in some fishing boats, in which case the board is placed as 

 close to the deck as possible, and then the men stand on the deck to do 

 their hauling. 



When dredging in waters which are not familiar, it is best to have one 

 of the Government Geodetic Maps, which gives depths and the type of 

 bottom. By consulting the map you can determine what type of shells you 

 are apt to bring up, how much rope to use, and which type of dredge will 

 be most satisfactory. Another necessity is a sounding lead to check your 

 depths. 



One of the men always sits with his hand on the dredge line and, with 

 practice, he can tell just what type of bottom the dredge is working on; if 

 it is biting, or floating. In great depths, weights must be attached to the 

 dredge line near the mouth of the dredge to keep it on the bottom. 



Along the near side of the dredge board, we have tacked heavy tape, 

 making pockets for different sizes of bottles, which are fitted into place as 

 soon as the dredge goes overboard. These are partially filled with water, 

 so that the shells will have a cushion when they are dropped into the 

 containers. It is well to have several different sizes, and the shells can be 

 more or less sorted as they are collected. Under the board are placed large 

 buckets into which are put the larger shells, pieces of coral, and in some 

 cases, old shells or algae. These things are looked over carefully after the 

 small shells are cleaned, and many minute shells are taken in this way. 

 All records of depth, location, and type of bottom should be kept with 

 each dredge load. 



When the dredger feels that the dredge is full, and this knowledge 

 comes with practice, the word is given, and the boat slowly backed as the 

 rope is hauled in, so as to take up slack, and when the rope is vertical, the 

 dredge is hauled up and the contents dumped on the dredge board. The 

 sponges, beautiful colors and rare shapes, but vile smelling, are quickly 

 looked over, and in most cases dumped overboard before we really begin 

 the work of sorting the catch. Rubber gloves should always be worn, as the 

 sponges and algae are sometimes poisonous, and will cause an annoying 

 rash. Quite often small morays, crabs, and the vicious dog fish are brought 

 up, and the hands must be protected. It is very helpful to use strong 

 forceps, about 12 inches long. They can be used to pick up near treasures, 

 reach over for those at a distance, stir up the mess when the top layer is 

 sorted, and are fine to push the discard oflf the ends of the dredge board 

 when one is reasonably sure there is nothing of value left. In fact, forceps 

 or tweezers are almost a necessity, as the hands are very clumsy in rubber 

 gloves. 



A jar of preserving alcohol is often useful, cither for a fine shell whose 

 animal must be retained, or for those too small to be cleaned, as Melanella, 

 Bittium, Cerithiopsis, Caecum, etc. Also, whenever dredging, I throw in all 



(26) 



