The '' Scotia " Closing Planldon Nd. 



141 



"" ^Position X 



XL The ''Scotia'' Closing Plankton Net. By William S. Bruce, 



F.RS.G.S. 



(Read 23rd March 1903.) 



The accompanying drawings show a form of closing net constructed 

 on board the "Scotia" after a design, the primary idea of which I 

 gained from the Scottish Reversing Thermometer Frame. In short, 

 a weight runs down the cord A, strikes the lever B, raises brass 

 rod C, which liberates hook D from position X to position Y. This 

 lets go net cords E, and net becomes suspended as in position Y 

 by cord F, which is a continuation of A, and draws up neck of 

 net and closes it. F is passed through a series of rings round neck. 

 G is coarse material, H Swiss silk or other material. The end 

 takes off at I, as in Hensen's net. Thus by letting whole apparatus 

 down nothing enters net, but on hauling up the tow-netting proceeds 

 and goes on vertically until the weight is sent down cord A at 

 desired depth, when position Y is obtained, and nothing enters 

 or gets out of net. It is also easy to trawl in fast in this position. 

 The net can be made any size. 



