J4 Natukai. History Bulletin. 



the mast. Tlie hoistiiiL^ machine was placed about six feet in 

 front of the mainmast. The iron rope led from the reeling 

 drum to a twelve-inch iron block fastened to the centre of the 

 deck just aft of the galley, thence to a similar block hooked 

 to the ends of the dredging spar, and then overboard. When 

 in use the spar is guyed fore and aft so as to be practically im- 

 movable. These guvs should be sufficienth' strong to bear 

 the entire strain of the dredge line. Indeed, great strength 

 is necessary in all parts of the equipment when a sail-vessel is 

 used, as it is impossible to back, and the strain is something- 

 terrible when the dredge suddenly fouls. This strain could 

 doubtless be materially lessened b}' the use of some sort of 

 accumulator, such as was used on the " Blake. "^ This does 

 not seem to be an actual necessity, however, for. as Alexander 

 Agassiz says. '• the curve made by the wire rope, as it leads 

 from the vessel to the trawl, is of itself the best accumulator, 

 as a comparatively slight strain will constantly tend to change 

 the form of the catenary." With the primitive dredging 

 equipment used by us. ii is necessar}- for some one to guide 

 the line so that it will coil properh' in reeling in under tension. 

 Our means of doing this was crude, but effective, consisting 

 of a strip of inch plank about four feet long, provided with a 

 slot through which the rope ran. by which it was kept from 

 slipping horizontally. The end of the board was placed on 

 the deck, and leverage exerted to the right or left, as the 

 reeling demanded. 



Each day. when the dredge, trawl, or tangles were let 

 down for the first haul, the entire length of the iron rope 

 was oiled by hand. In addition to this, the whole coil was 

 thoroughly sopped with oil whenever it was dry. 



In addition to the trawls, dredges, and tangles a number of 

 simple appliances were provided for surface and shoal water 

 collecting. Convenient and cheap dip nets can be secured by- 

 purchasing crab nets at any sea-port, and replacing the net by 

 silk bolting cloth, cheese cloth, or mosquito netting, thus 

 securing a series of netting from the finest to a sufficiently- 



'Agassiz, "Three Cruises of the ' Blake,'" page 31. 



