8308 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
about 22 feet long, having the lower side of its mouth heavily loaded with lead 
sinkers to insure its dragging closely on the bottom. Immediately back of the 
mouth it is provided with an internal, funnel-shaped apron, to prevent the 
escape of animals which have once entered, and for 5 feet at the bottom there is 
also an inner pocket of small-meshed netting to hold the smaller specimens. A 
thick-walled spherical glass float is attached to the upper side of the net near the 
mouth, so as to hold it open when immersed. The lower end or tail of the net is 
closed by a secure lashing, which is removed after each haul for the discharge of the 
specimens into table sieves on the deck of the vessel, where they are washed, sorted, 
and preserved for future study. The trawl is drage ged by a steel rope which will 
bear a strain of 7 tons, rigged to a heavy bottom attached to the foremast. The 
trawl is lowered and hauled in by steam power. With a net in general design similar 
to the one exhibited the Albatross has obtained specimens in water over 4} miles deep. 
Tangle bars: 
Used to collect specimens where the bottom is so foul or rocky that the beam 
trawl, or any other form of net, would be torn or otherwise seriously injured. It is 
by no means as efficient as the trawl, but on rocky or coral bottom it is practically 
the only appliance which can be used, and it frequently catches numerous specimens 
of star-fishes, sea urchins, corals, crabs, shrimp, fishes, and other animals which 
become entangled in the mops. The bow at the angle of the bars is made of tem- 
pered steel, so that the legs will close up on one another like a pair of dividers if the 
frame becomes fouled in the rocks. The tangles are dragged over the bottom by 
the wire used for trawling. 
Chester rake-dredge: 
For use from large vessels in collecting burrowing species of fish, mates ae, 
ete., on hard mud or sand bottom. 
Large boat-dredge: 
Used for collecting specimens from the bottom. 
Small boat-dredge: 
Used for collecting specimens from the bottom. — 
Surface tow-net (3-foot): 
Used for collecting surface-swimming and floating plants and animals. The outer 
bag of netting serves as a support to the lining of cheesecloth used to retain the more 
minute organisms. The funnel prevents the escape of active species of shrimps and 
fishes. After a towing is made the tail lashing is removed and the specimens washed 
into a basin of water, “from which they are picked out and transferred to preserva- 
tives. The net is usually towed at a speed of about 2 knots per hour. 
Surface tow-net (silk gauze): 
Used for catching small and microscopic organisms at the surface. 
Tanner intermediate tow-net, for taking specimens at known depths: 
This net is lowered vertically to the required depth and towed for a definite time. 
A weight or messenger is then sent down the wire, which reverses the tumbler, casts 
off the bridles, and allows the weights on the legs of the frame to exert a strong pull 
on the drawstring and securely close the bottom half of the net. 
Tounsend intermediate tow-net: 
Used like the Tanner net. The ring is hinged and the two halves are closed on 
one another by a device actuated by a messenger slid down the rope. 
Twenty-five-foot Baird seine: 
This is a type of seine especially devised and used for collecting fishes and, inci- 
dentally, other water animals. It is rigged with floats and leads like ordinary seines, 
but has as its distinctive features a very fine mesh and a large bag in the center into 
which the catch gravitates, and can be most conveniently overhauled. Two persons 
are required to operate it, and it may be set from a rowboat or by wading. The 
standard lengths of collecting seines used by the Commission are 15, 25, 45, 75, and 
120 feet. 
Smith rake dredge: 
For use from a small boat in collecting burrowing species of clams, worms, ete., on 
hard mud or sand bottom. 
