x PREFACE. 
Landsborough (upon whom the bulk of the species in the 
appendix are fathered) ceased to be repeated—but error and 
confusion of this sort die hard. 
The best dredging stations within easy access of Glasgow 
are probably Rothesay and Kilchattan Bay in Bute, Millport 
in Cumbrae, and Lamlash in Arran, at all which places boat- 
men can readily be obtained. At Millport, William Thom- 
son, and at Kilchattan Bay, Donald Glen, are very well 
acquainted with the work; at Rothesay, Daniel Reid can 
supply boats, men, and dredges if necessary; and at Lamlash 
Iam informed that James M‘Innes and James Leitch are 
good boatmen, and well acquainted with the dredging ground 
in the bay. During April and May, «.e., after the white fish- 
ing has ceased, and before the herring have arrived, boatmen 
can probably be got at most of the fishing villages on the 
coast; but from June onward I have found it impossible to 
obtain men of the right sort, all being engaged at the her- 
ring fishery. 
The equipment for dredging consists of a double-bladed 
galvanized iron dredge, which can be got, ready made 
with net attached, from Mr. R. Damon of Weymouth, 
or can be made to order for half that dealer’s price 
by any intelligent working blacksmith—a piect of coarse 
sacking being used as a substitute for the net. The 
length of scraper which I find suitable is about 22 inches, 
the weight of the iron framework being 17-bs., but a 
heavier frame is probably required (say about 25lbs.) in water 
of greater depth than 35 or 40 fathoms. This is, of course, 
a mere matter of opinion—Mr. Robertson, for example, advo- 
cating the use of an instrument about half the size of the 
above. A board about 6 feet by 2 feet will be found very 
useful, laid across the boat’s gunwales, for emptying the 
dredge upon; this board may farther be utilised when 
travelling by strapping the other gear upon it, and so con- 
centrating the whole equipment into one package. A quan- 
tity of untarred Manilla rope, the length and thickness of 
