COLLECTIXG HEX. IN THE SAGAMI SEA. 21 



somewhat changed, especially if they be kept in motion while 

 on the bottom. I have already called attention to the fact 

 that the trailing line and with it the hooks are more or less 

 pulled along the bottom during the process of hauling in, even 

 though no attempt at dragging be purposely made. More- 

 over, I think I am justified in assuming that the fish caught 

 by the hooks and striving to escape at the ends of the snoods, 

 set the cordage in motion and thereby play a significant part 

 in bringing the unoccupied hooks against the bottom-objects. The 

 dragging, when intentionally resorted to, must be carried on 

 very slowly but not necessarily for a prolonged period of time ; 

 for, there exists as much chance of damaging or losing speci- 

 mens once caught by the hooks, as of gaining by long continued 

 dragging. It would seem that the increase of hooks beyond the 

 usual number, or the use of double, treble or quadruple hooks 

 should substantially add to the efficiency of the long-line as a 

 collecting apparatus. In practice, however, I have found little 

 or no difference. What might thereby be gained seemed to be 

 annulled by the necessity of extra caution in handling the lines 

 on account of the increased number of the points of the hooks, 

 which are so liable through accident or a slight mismanagement to 

 inflict painful wounds on the persons of those absorbed in the 

 strenuous labor of hauling in. 



Not less important than hooking is the process of entangling. 

 All the large or heavy objects (such as corals and rocks with 

 various animals growing on them, &e.) could not possibly have 

 been obtained, had not the snoods, the main-line, or both together 

 coiled around them. In lowering the lines, it is exceedingly 

 likely that portions of them should reach the bottom in con- 

 fused coils and loops, which are tightened on being pulled, and 



