.74 



A dredge is the implement used, 

 from time immemorial, for dragging 

 the oyster from the bottom of the sea. 



It is of triangular form, stoutly made of wrought iron, to 

 which the necessary "rigging" is attached. The iron 

 ''ring" passes through a hole in the "heel" or "rest" 

 which hooks on to the bulwark when the dredge is about 

 to be lifted on board. The three iron bars radiating from 

 the " keel " are called the " limbs," and the cross-tie is called 

 the " war bin." The way in which the ends of this warbin 

 are twisted round the two outer limbs is noticeable. 



The ends of these two outer limbs are united by a flat 

 bar with a blunt edge, called the " bit," which scrapes up 

 the oyster, and a good deal else that comes in the way. 

 The dredges used on the flats have a " link back " or 

 "ground" of wire rings, made and w r ired together by the 

 fishermen themselves. On the beds this wire netting would 

 be too rough, and hide is used instead. The upper netting 

 in both cases is made of twine. The netting is fastened on 

 to the dredge by hide " lacings." The " catch-stick " to 

 which the " link back " is fastened is of holly, and the two 

 side sticks of oak. 



Between the catch stick and the twine net are three rows 

 of wire netting called the " bonnet," which take the weight 

 and pressure when the net is filling. 



Each smack works what is known as a " fleet " of five or 

 six dredges. The t\vo heaviest dredges drag from the bow, 

 tw r o of medium weight from midships, and the two lightest 

 from the stern. In this way the dredges are kept clear of 

 each other, the smack, of course, sailing and drifting with 

 wind and tide. The crew consists usually of four men on 



