8i 



NOTES OF TWO DAYS' TRAWLING AND 

 DREDGING IN THE RIVER CROUCH, OCT. 



loth AND 15th, 1891. 



By WALTER CROUCH, F.Z.S., Vice-President. 

 {Read March tgth, iSg2.\ 



'T^RAWIJNG and dredging, whether in the deep and open sea, 

 off the coast, or in an estuary, is, at all times, an exhilarating 

 and fascinating occupation ; and it is one of yet greater interest 

 when pursued in any locality from which but few records have been 

 made, such as the eastern coast-line of our own county. 



There is abundance of labour, and often personal discomfort, in 

 the work ; but the marine naturalist who loves " the inexpressible 

 sweetness of old ocean's breath," and the wondrous and beautiful 

 world of life which exists therein, can brave all this for the pleasure 

 of learning, and of beholding some of the secrets of the sea ; for 



" Only those who brave its dangers 

 Comprehend its mysteries." 



But apart from the hard and often dirty work, must also be counted 

 the cost of purchasing or hiring craft, and the necessary appliances, 

 including the 



" Naturalist's dredge, with its iron edge, 

 And its mystical triangle. 

 And its hided net, with meshes set, 

 Odd fishes to entangle." 



This same question of cost has, no doubt, prevented many students 

 of biology from taking up the study, and working at marine forms. 



Therefore, are our thanks especially due to our good friend, 

 Mr. John Rogers, of " Mangapp," Burnham, for again placing his 

 yacht " P"ame," and its experienced crew, at our disposal, with the 

 necessary apparatus, and also a well-stocked basket of creature 

 comforts to help lighten the toil, and renew the strength. Thereby 

 Mr. E. A. Fitch and I had again the opportunity of working in the 

 Crouch and Roach Rivers ; and he, having given us last year the 

 results of our one-day trip (see "A Day on the Crouch," Essex 

 Naturalist, vol. v., pp. 145-152), has left to me the honour of 

 preparing these notes of the two-days' cruise. 



On the first day, we left Maldon early, and, as we passed near 



