APPLIANCES FOR COLLECTING PELAGIC ORGANISMS. 
149 
feet. The lap of legs over rhe apron is 4^ inches, and the upper ends screw 1 inch 
into their respective tees. 
The api’on is of sheet brass ^ inch thick, 18 inches in length ; straight on the 
upper edge, the lower part semicircular with a radius of 10 inches. It is secured to 
the tlattened extremities of the legs by two screw bolts in each end, inch in diame- 
ter and 34 - inches in length. An oblong hole in tlie central upper part of the apron 
is for the purpose of securing the tail of the net, in order to prevent its floating up or 
becoming entangled while being lowered. 
The functions of the apx’on are threefold : first, to afford rigid and secure fastenings 
for the lower ends of the legs; second, by its form to aid in guiding the net down 
vertically when lowering it to the prescribed depth; and finally, to give the apparatus 
a tendency to take a horizontal position when towing, thus increasing the area of 
collecting surface within the ring. The weights are all at or near the ring while the 
net is being lowered and towed, and there is a preponderance of 40 pounds on one side 
of it, so placed as to cause the apron to expose its Hat surface to the water and greatly 
increase tlie tendency of the light rear end to seek the level of the more ponderous 
weighted ring whenever it is moving forward. 
Blocks, four in number, for operating the drawstring, are of brass, I 4 inches in 
length. Two of them are secured to a pair of legs by through bolts, riveted 3 feet 4 
inches above the apron; the others are seized with wire to tlie tees holding the upper 
ends of the otlier pair of legs upon which the movable weights traverse. 
The movable Aveights of lead, tAvo in number and Aveigiiing 30 iiounds each, are 
provided to put the required tension on the draAvstring Avbeu it is desired to close the 
net. They are egg-shaped, 3 inches in diameter by 7.4 inches long, and have an inch 
hole through the ceuter; f-inch holes in lugs at their upper extremities furnish a 
convenient method of attaching the draAvstring and tripping lines. 
The sinker is of cast iron, 130 pounds weight, oblong in form, with projecting links 
of wrought iron at each end, through Avhich shackles for attaching toAV net and dredge 
rope pass. The sinker is used to facilitate lowering the net, and to prevent kinking 
the steel dredge rope or toAv hue. 
The friction clamp is composed of brass and steel, the barrel of the former metal, 
the eccentric tumbler, sliding chocks, striking face, and adjusting screw of the latter. 
A small steel wrench is provided to Avork the adjusting scrcAv. 
The messenger is of cast iron, 9 pounds in Aveight, made in halves, with two 
scores on the external surface for convenience in passing lashings. To use it, pass 
the halves over the rope and take a few turns of a lashing. The hole in the messenger 
is sufficiently large to alloAv it to q)ass freely OA’er splices in the dredge rope. 
The net is half-inch mesh; thread 34-6 stow, barked; it is seized to the ring with 
seine twine, and hangs 5 feet 6 inches in length, the same size throughout. It is 
lined with mosquito netting the Avhole length, and there is an inner lining of silk gauze 
extending up 3 feet 6 inches from the lower end. The outer net is intended to take 
the strain in towing, the linings pressing against it on all sides, and acting simply as 
collectors. The lower end of the net is closed by a cod-line lashing, which includes 
the outer net and mosquito-net lining, the silk gauze or inner lining being secured 
separately and placed inside of the others as an additional protection against Avear 
and tear. After the outer net is securely lashed, the ends of the same lashing are 
taken through the hole in the apron and knotted, lea\dng about 0 inches slack to 
allow for closing the net, shrinkage, etc. 
