How TO MAKE A CROW-FOOT DREDGE OUTFIT. 119 



is occasionally used, but it will not catch the larger ones. 



Number n wire is the most popular. Number 10 is 

 used for the largest shells, and even number 9 is used 

 occasionally. The strength of the heavy wire hooks does 

 not allow them to let go of a snag, and if a dredge con- 

 taining a large number of number 9 wire hooks becomes 

 entangled around a solid snag, the pearl hunter begins to 

 wish for an ocean liner to help him pull loose. The 

 number n wire hooks will straighten out somewhat 

 under a strong pull, and thus the dredge becomes free 

 again and is ready for use as soon as the hooks are bent 

 to the proper angle with the pliers. In making the twisted 

 hooks, the wire is first cut into lengths of ten inches, 

 called needles. The needles are made into hair-pins and 

 two hair-pins are placed on the hook end of the crank, 

 and the ends of the hair-pins are passed through the 

 holes in the plate. The crank is then turned several 

 revolutions, and the hook is finished, except for cutting 

 the ends even and bending the prongs properly. 



The different stages in the development can be seen on 

 the side of the machine in the illustration. The boats are 

 propelled by the oars or by a small gasoline engine. In 

 new pearl fisheries where the mussels are very plentiful 

 and it is not necessary to go far, the oars are used and 

 there is not much need for an engine, besides there is 

 more room in the boat without it. In older pearl fish- 

 eries there are less shells and more drags are necessary 

 to get a given number of shells, so the engine is a great 

 advantage, and if it is desirable to tow other boats, a 

 stronger engine is required. Most of the mussel boats 



