487 
THE COMMERCIAL SPONGES AND THE SPONGE FISHERIES. 
The bridle is composed of a rope running from the middle of the wooden top 
bar and two, three, or four chains connected near the ends and at one or two 
intermediate places on the bottom bar, all being united in an eye or ring to 
which the towrope is attached. The several parts of the bridle are of such 
comparative length that the frame stands upright when towing. The net bag 
The tow rope or cable varies in length from 300 to 600 feet, and 
is laced to the wooden top bar and to rings welded to the iron part of the 
passing through a chuck or snatch block near the bow is led aft to a hand wind- 
frame. 
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Fic. 2.—Dredge, or gangava, used in Mediterranean sponge fisheries. 
A guy line bent to the cable with a rolling hitch at some distance from the 
vessel is led directly to a cleat or bit near the stern, and is used in controlling 
lass. 
A similar line is carried under the jibboom and attached 
to the opposite side, to be used when the vessel comes about. 
the drift of the vessel. 
The method of using the dredge is essentially as follows: By means of mast- 
head tackles or davit tackles attached to the wooden bar of the frame it is lowered 
ine is then 
The towl 
bent to the bridle cringle and carried through a snatch block forward. ‘The 
tackles are cast loose and the net lowered by slowly paying out the tow line 
bag first until the frame reaches the level of the rail. 
