160 GLAUCUS ; OR, 
the oyster dredge, it should have two, one above and 
one below, so that it will work equally well on 
whichsoever side it falls, or how often soever it may 
be turned over by rough ground. The bag-net should 
be of strong spunyarn, or (still better) of hide “such 
as those hides of the wild cattle of the Pampas, 
which the tobacconists receive from South America,” 
cut into thongs, and netted close. It should be 
loosely laced together with a thong at the tail edge 
in order to be opened easily, when brought on board, 
without canting the net over, and pouring the con- 
tents roughly out through the mouth. The dragging- 
rope should be strong, and at least three times as 
long as the perpendicular depth of the water in which 
you are working ; if, indeed, there is much breeze, or 
any swell at all, still more line should be veered out. 
The inboard end should be made fast somewhere 
in the stern sheets, the dredge hove to windward, 
the boat put before the wind; and you may then 
amuse yourself as you will for the next quarter of 
an hour, provided that you have got ready various 
wide-mouthed bottles for the more delicate monsters, 
