NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 



77 



This having been satisfactorily ascertained, the rope was let go and allowed to run 

 out freely, the ship forging slowly through the water, leaving the dredge to sink astern, 

 and thus prevent all chance of fouling. The rope was checked occasionally to ensure 

 its being taut from the dredge. 



When from 300 to 500 fathoms had been paid out a toggle was lashed to the rope, 

 which was then let run until a sufficient quantity had been paid out to allow the toggle 



Fig. 22. — Diagram illustrating the supposed action of the Deep-Sea Dredge. 



to reach the bottom were the line perpendicular. The dredge and rope then occupied the 

 position A B, shown in fig. 22, and the ship was brought to the wind and kept stationary, 

 or, if there were much wind, steamed slowly towards the dredge, taking care not to over- 

 run it. A weight of 1^ cwt. was now attached to the thimble through which the rope 

 had been rove previously to its being secured to the dredge chain, and the weight and 



