TANNER DREDGING OPERATIONS OF SPEEDWELL IN 1879. 607 



8 a. in. lowered the dredge in 16 fathoms, Minot's Ledge light-house 

 bearing south 3^'. Seven hauls were made in from 16 to 30 fathoms, 

 four with the trawl and three with the dredge, arriving in Provincetown 

 at 6.25 p. m. The work was seriously interrupted during the latter part 

 of the day by heavy winds and sea. 



Monday, September 15, we left the wharf at 9.20 a. m., and low- 

 ered the dredge at 10.30 a. m. in 10J fathoms, Billingsgate Island light- 

 house bearing S. 53° E. 4'. Seven hauls were made in from 7 to 15 

 fathouis, four with the dredge and three with the trawl, returning at 

 0.10 p. m. It rained heavily during the 16th, with a fresh breeze from 

 S.W., detaining us in port. The 17th commenced with overcast weather 

 and moderate breeze from N.E., clearing up during the day. At mid- 

 night we left the wharf and stood out to sea, lowering the dredge at 6 

 a. m., on the 18th, in 105 fathoms, Cape Cod light-house bearing S. 86° 

 W. 30'. Six hauls were made during the day in from 70 to 108 fathoms, 

 four with the trawl and two with the dredge. At 8.40 p. m. anchored 

 off Chatham Light in 7 fathoms. Got under way at 5 a. m., on the 

 19th, and lowered the trawl at 6 a. m. in 7i fathoms, Chatham light-house 

 bearing 1ST. 45° W. 2f. Eight hauls were made in from 7£ to 70 fath- 

 oms, six with the trawl and two with the dredge. Eeturned to Prov- 

 incetown at 9.15 p. m. 



The 20th we remained in port drying and repairing dredging appara- 

 tus, and were detained by unfavorable weather until 7 a. m., on the 26th, 

 when we stood out to sea and lowered the trawl at 8.30 a. in., in 46 

 fathoms, Cape Cod light-house bearing S. 32° W. 5'. In heaving in, 

 the rope parted just as the trawl reached the surface; the trawl was lost. 

 We bent another one and lowered it at 10 a. m. in 46 fathoms, Cape 

 Cod light-house bearing S. 75° W. 6i'. The rope parted again while 

 heaving in. The spot was buoyed with the intention of grappling for 

 the trawl. 



The breaking of the rope was a surprise, as it was a new 3£-inch 

 Italian hemp rope (at least we bought it for such), and should have borne 

 a working strain of ten thousand pounds, whereas our hoisting-engine 

 would not lift a third of that weight. The work was- continued with the 

 dredge during the day, making four hauls in from 46 to 96 fathoms, re- 

 turning to Provincetown at 6.30 p. m. 



We left the wharf at 7 a. m., 27th, with grapnels, &c, prepared to drag 

 for the trawl. When we arrived near the spot we discovered our buoy 

 and line on the deck of a schooner — they had picked it up during the 

 morning. The exact location of the trawl was now unknown, but we 

 dragged for several hours as near the spot as we could get by bearings, 

 &c, without success, returning to Provincetown at 3 p. m. 



Upon examination the rope was found to be very inferior in quality, 

 and, a test being applied, it broke twice with a strain of less than two 

 tons — probably not more than one. 



