124 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



scallops. The framework of the Italian ingegno is 

 constructed of two crosspieces of oak firmly bound 

 together in the middle, thus forming four long arms, 

 to which ropes about twenty feet in length are 

 attached. Strong, square, wide-meshed nets are fas- 

 tened to the ropes. A heavy stone or piece of lead 

 fixed to the intersection of the arms of this curious 

 type of dredge causes the ingegno to sink and to 

 remain on the bottom while being dragged behind 

 the boat. 



As this instrument is hauled over the bottom, coral 

 coming in its path becomes enmeshed in the nets and 

 is carried along until the machine is hoisted to the 

 surface. As might be supposed, many other objects, 

 such as rocks, bits of wreckage, cans, and crabs, are 

 also caught. The procedure is very slow, for the 

 ingegno is so cumbersome that much time is required 

 for sinking, raising, and cleaning the instrument 

 and repairing the nets. Usually the process can be 

 repeated only six or seven times each day. Moreover 

 sometimes the nets catch on some snag and are torn 

 completely off, causing the loss of many nets and 

 requiring much time for repairs. 



The Japanese use a somewhat similar apparatus, 

 but one which is much lighter and easier to handle. 

 In this fishery, the drag consists of about sixteen 

 nets, each about six feet square, fastened to a strong 

 pole by means of ropes and wires. Each net is 

 weighted, as is also the bamboo bar. The nets are 

 arranged so that those attached close to the pole 

 brush the coral off the rocks, and those which follow 

 catch it and bring it to the surface, when the appara- 



