362 
]5ULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
picks up -vvliatever it turns over witli its strong liarrow-like teetb. Its dimensions 
are as follows : 
Frame : Length, 3 feet ; depth of oiieniug, 10 inches ; width of 
metal, 21 inches; thickness of metal, 1-inch. 
Teeth: Length, 7 inches; width of base, 21 inches; thickness of 
metal, base, 1-inch. 
Arms: Length of long arm, 3 feet 5 inches; length of short arm, 
3 feet 3 inches; diameter, round iron, f-inch. 
Weight, 79 pounds. 
THE BLAKE DREDGE. 
The ordinary dredge, having its Jaws set at an angle, 
naturally grips the bottom and will plow into it and bury 
itself if the soil is light and soft. This is a necessary feature 
on hard, sandy bottoms, but a serious detriment in the soft 
ooze of the deep sea. Various devices were resorted to by 
Lieut. Commander Sigsbee on board the Blake, resulting in 
his “improved dredge,” known aboard the Albatross as the 
Blake dredge (cut 67). The following description is from 
Sigsbee’s Deep-Sea Sounding and Dredging: 
By reason of having flaring mouthpieces and a flexible body com- 
posed of the hag and shield, the old pattern dredge is almost sure to 
l>low deeply into yielding bottoms. Since the object sought in the 
fashioning of the new dredge was to effect a skimming of the bottom 
rather than a deep penetration therein, a A^ery decided departure from 
the form of the old dredge was necessary. The frame of the new is a 
rectangular skeleton liox made of wrought iron. The mouthpieces are 
Hat, beveled on the forward inner edges, perforated along the rear edges, 
as on the old dredge, and riveted to the skeleton or bar iron portions 
of the framework, in which position they are held parallel. 
The rear of the upper and lower sides of the skeleton are connected 
by three riveted braces, the Avhole framework being rigid. A tangle bar 
of heavy wood, bar iron, or iron pipe, to carry the weights and tangles, 
has seized to it three sister hooks, which are hooked severally around 
the braces and moused. The arms are like those of the old dredge, one 
arm being longer than the other. A netting bag and camms shield, as 
in the case of the old dredge, are stitched with pliable Avire to the dredge feme. A trap like that of 
the trawl is litted inside the main bag. The bottom of the main bag is stopped to the juiddle brace 
at the rear of the frame. Each flap of the canvas shield is turned over and around its own side and 
end of the skeleton frame, .and stitched to its own p.art Avith stout tAvine, presenting a tolerably 
smooth sliding surface. 
The fbllowiug are the dimeusious of the Blake dredge as used ou board of the 
Albatross: 
Cut 66. — The Chester rake 
dredge. 
Jaws: Length, 4 feet; width. 6 inches; thickness of metal, f inch; distaiice of holes from edge, f 
inch ; distance betAveen holes, 2 inches ; depth or opening betAveeu jaAVS, 9 inches. 
Skeleton frame : Length, including Avidth of JaAvs, 4 feet ; diameter of round iron, i inch ; diameter 
of.braces, f inch. 
Long .arm, length, 4 feet ; short .arm, length, 3 feet 9 inches. 
Diameter of round iron, both arms, | inch. 
Weight of dredge .and feme, 81 pounds. 
Shield, cotton c.anvas, No. 2. 
Net: Length, 5 feet; size of mesh, squ.are, 1 inch ; material, cotton, b.arked, 30-thread. 
Jacket: Length, 3 feet; size of mesh, square, i inch; material, cotton, barked, 16-thread. 
Bottom lining, cheese-cloth. 
