PRESIDElSrT S ADDEESf^. Ill 



THE DREDGING SONG.* 



Hurrah for the dredge, with its iron edge, 



And its mystical triangle, 

 And its hided net, with meshes set, 



Odd fishes to entangle 1 

 The ship may rove through the waters above, 



'Mid scenes exciting wonder, 

 But braver sights the dredge deliglits, 



As it roves the water under. 

 Chorus — Then a dredging we will go, wise boys. 

 Then a dredging we will go. 



Down in the deep, where the mermen sleep, 



Our gallant dredge is sinking. 

 Each finny shape in a precious scrape 



Will find itself in a twinkling ! 

 They may twirl and twist, and writhe as the_v list. 



And break themselves into sections. 

 But up they all, at the dredge's call. 



Must come to fill collections. 



Then a dredging, etc. 



The creatures strange the sea that range. 



Though mighty in their stations, 

 To the dredge must yield the briny field 



Of their loves and depredations : 

 The crab so bold, like a knight of old 



In scaly armour plated ; 

 And the slimy snail, with a shell on his tail, 



And star fish radiated. 



Then a dredging, etc. 



Were I a fish (though I've no such wish 



For a tail — the more's the pity) 

 I'd anathematize the prying eyes 



Of the terrible Dredging Committee ; 

 No fish am I, but high and dry 



'Mid dredgers take my station, 

 A- catching the fishes, all at the wishes 



Of the British Association. 

 Then a dredging, etc. 



*By Edward Forbes. I give it here from a manuscript copy which I procured from 

 my late friend Mr. Alder. The last verse is not given in the version published in the 

 Life of Forbes. 



