8 BULLETIN OF THE 



a hundred fixthoms, when we lowered more carefully, and then payed 

 out the slack very gradually, the dredge dragging ou the bottom all the 

 time. In bringing it up after the dredge was clear of the bottom, it 

 was hoisted again at the same speed, and as far as I could perceive the 

 specimens were none the worse for their rapid upward journey. This 

 gave us a chance to make several hauls a day, and b}-^ not leaving the 

 dredge or trawl to drag too long on the bottom, we obviated the great 

 loss of time due to fouling, reversing, or any other accident out of sight. 

 In the "Challenger" the best part of the day was generally consumed in 

 making a haul at a depth of 1,500 fathoms. We experienced no incon- 

 venience from the kinking of the rope, if kept well stretched, and not 

 allowed to lie slack on the bottom. 



We have modified somewhat the dredges generally used. While 

 using the dredges, as formerly made, with a frame having a bevelled 

 edge, especially ou muddy bottom, we experienced great annoyance at 

 first from the amount of mud brought up by it. When the dredge is used 

 in soft ooze, it evidently sinks deeply in it and fills at once, and, the viscid 

 mud not washing' out easily, it is even difl&cvdt to sift it on deck. To 

 obviate this defect, we stopped a piece of two-and-a-half-inch rope below 

 the dredge frame to raise the lips and prevent it from cutting into the 

 mud. This worked admirably, and after that our dredges always came 

 up bringing less mud and a larger supply of specimens. We are now 

 making a dredge with a flat frame for use on our next tx'ip. We are also 

 attempting a modification of the beam-trawl ; as at present used, there 

 is constant danger, in lowering it to great depths, below 1,000 fathoms, 

 that it will not fall properly, no matter how well balanced it may be, 

 owing to cuiTcnts or the drift of the vessel. We have therefore devised 

 a new trawl bearing to the old beam-trawl the same relation which the 

 ordinary dredge bears to the old oyster-dredge, and we hope thus to 

 have a trawl which will not fail to do its duty on w^liatever side it may 

 happen to fall. The tangles we found invaluable, especially on rocky 

 bottoms, where there is always danger of carrying away either a dredge 

 or a trawl. 



I made no attempts to use the tow-net at great depths to ascertain 

 the presence of Foraminifera, Radiolaria, or other pelasgic animals at a 

 considerable distance from the surfoce. All naturalists fiimiliar with 

 the use of the dip-net, the tow-net, or its modification first employed be- 

 low the surface by Baur, know that the pelasgic animals are driven from 

 the immediate surface, by wind.s and rain, or by some other cause, into 

 moderate depth, where they uuiy always be procured, while at greater 



