216 THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. [cHaP. v. 
the spindle on which the cups turn. Attached to 
the same spindle is the rope p, which ends above in 
an iron ring. §E represents a pair of tumbler hooks, 
fastened likewise to the end of the sounding-line ; 
c a heavy leaden or iron weight, with a hole through 
it wide enough to allow the rope D with its loop and 
ring to pass freely ; and B, a strong india-rubber band 
which passes round the handles of the scoops. In the 
figure the instrument is represented as it is sent 
down and before it reaches the bottom. The weight 
c and the scoops A are now suspended by the rope D, 
whose ring is caught by the tumbler hooks zr. The 
elastic ring B is in a state of tension, ready to draw 
together the scoop handles and close the scoops, but 
it is antagonized by the weight c, which, pressing 
down into a space between the handles, keeps them 
asunder. ‘The moment the scoops are driven into the 
ground by the weight, the tension on the rope D is 
relaxed, the tumblers fall and release the ring, and 
the weight falls and allows the elastic band to close 
the scoops and to keep them closed upon whatever 
they may contain; the rope pb slips through the 
weight, and the closed scoops are drawn up by the 
rope F. This is a pretty idea, and an ingenious and 
elegant apparatus, but it is rather complicated. I 
have never seen it in use, but I should fear that the 
observer might often be thwarted by the scoops fall- 
ing in a wrong direction, or by pebbles getting into 
the hinges and preventing their closing thoroughly. 
The simpler all these things are the better. 
We used in our trip in the ‘ Lightning’ in 1868 an 
instrument (Fig. 41) which at first sight scarcely 
looks promising from its apparent want of compact- 
