Observations Conducted on Sailing-SMps 69 



tied on to the fish by copper wire ; butter muslin to wrap fish, etc., in 

 when to be stored in a tank or jar ; a supply of cotton-barked netting 

 of 1-inch mesh, which is used to make bags for the top of the trawl 

 and to line the cod-end of the same ; and a supply of mosquito netting 

 to make bags to be attached to the trawl. These, however, are often 

 filled with such a weight of mud as to be carried away completely. 



A tin-lined tank, made like a large box, with lid which can be 

 closed and fastened down, may be usefully affixed to some corner of 

 the deck, and in this may be stored fish, etc. 



The preservatives in use are methylated spirit and formalin, of 

 which a plentiful supply should be carried. 



Of open tow-nets nothing much need be said. There is no 

 particular virtue in any kind of net, but a number of such nets may 

 be clamped at intervals upon the warp, and they are, perhaps, all the 

 better if they are supplied with tin or aluminium vessels at the bottom, 

 with a tap. On removing the nets from the water the contents of the 

 silk net gravitate towards the tin cup, and the inside of the net can be 

 washed into the cup, and the collection made into bottles through 

 the tap. 



Larger nets, bent on to a framework of wood or ordinary gas- 

 piping, may be employed to trail behind the ship at the surface or 

 some distance below, and catch an amazing quantity of plankton ; 

 and a very useful form of net with a triangular frame of heavy wood 

 may be usefully employed to drag along the bottom, and many bottom 

 species which seldom or never leave the mud are collected in this 

 manner. 



Of course open tow-nets give no accurate information as to the 

 precise locality or depth in which species are captured, and if the 

 latter be the object of inquiry some form of ' closing '-net must be 

 employed. 



Very nearly the same disposition of apparatus on deck as was 

 mentioned for deep-water tow-netting is applicable to trawling. Stout 

 wire warp is preferable to rope (the wire for closing-nets will not 

 do), and this is reeled off a drum and taken round the steam capstan, 



