Diving is the art or act of descending into water to considerable depths, and remaining there for a time. The uses of diving are important, particularly in fishing for pearls, corals, sponges, examining the foundations of bridges, recovering valuables from sunken ships, and the like. Without the aid of artificial appliances a skilful diver may remain under water for two, or even three minutes and rarely longer. Various methods have been proposed and engines contrived to render diving more safe and easy. The great object in all these is to furnish the diver with fresh air, without which he must either make but a short stay under water or perish. Research Diving
A divining rod is a rod, usually of hazel, with two forked branches, used by persons who profess to discover minerals or water under ground. The rod, if carried slowly along by the forked ends, dips and points downwards, it is affirmed, when brought over the spot where the concealed mineral or water is to be found. The use of the divining-rod is still common in many parts, and during the Victorian era various wonderful instances of its efficacy in discovering water were published in respectable prints. Research Diving Rod
Dredging is a term applied to the operation of removing mud, silt, and other deposits from the bottom of harbours, canals, rivers, docks, etc. The most simple dredging apparatus is the spoon apparatus, which consists of a strong iron ring or hoop, properly formed for making an impression upon the soft matter at the bottom, so as to scoop it into a large bag attached to the ring and perforated with a number of small holes. The means for working it is a long handle, a suspending rope, and a crane or sweep-pole planted in a boat.
Much more effective was the steam dredging-machine that became common during the 19th century. It had a succession of strong iron buckets on an endless chain, which traversed on a frame whose lower end was vertically adjustable so as to regulate the depth at which it worked. It was worked by steam, and the buckets tore up the matter at the bottom, raised it, and discharge it into punts or hoppers close to the dredging vessel. Various forms of steam - pump dredgers, in which suction-pipes were the chief features, were also used.
The river Clyde, from being a shallow stream, was converted, mainly by dredging, into a waterway carrying large vessels up to Glasgow.
Dredging rivers for gold has been largely carried on since the 19th century; and the gold-dredge may even be floated in water artificially supplied.
Dredging is also the operation of dragging the bottom of the sea for molluscs, plants, and other objects, it may be for scientific observation. The oyster-dredge is a light iron frame with a scraper like a narrow hoe on one side, and a bag attached to receive the oysters. The dredges used by naturalists are mostly modifications of or somewhat similar to the oyster-dredge. Scientific dredging assumed a high importance at the end of the 19th century for research into the life of deep-sea areas, before the invention of deep-sea diving equipment and cameras. Research Dredging
Agabus is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae, with twenty species occurring in Britain ranging from eight to eleven millimetres in length. They are mostly dark brown and the males have tiny suction pads or patches of adhesive hairs on the under side of the widened first segments of the fore and middle tarsi. They live chiefly in cold, clear water. Research Agabus
Alcidae is the auks family of birds of the order Natatores. They are characterized by a bill which is much flattened vertically; short wings; legs placed at the extremity of the body; the feet are three-toed and palmated; the tail is short. They feed mostly on fish captured by diving. Research Alcidae
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a small falcon of the order Falconiformes, family Falconidae, with white cheeks and two black vertical cheek stripes. The male has a rusty back and tail, grey wings. The female is brownish. It forages for mice, lizards and insects by hovering above the ground, then diving for its prey. It occurs in many habitats, including borders of wetlands. Research American Kestrel
The Black-throated Diver or Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica) is a sea bird of the family Colymbidae, native to northern Europe and northwestAsia, which sometimes breeds in northern Scotland. Its colouration comprises grey-brown upper parts with white under parts. The nest is built on islets near deep water, and comprises a shallow depression in grass, usually without any lining, and often by the water's edge enabling the birds to slip straight into the water from the nest. One or two, occasionally three eggs are laid in April or May, and the partners take turns in incubating them for about a month. After hatching, the chicks take straight to the water with their parents who continue to care for them for a further two months. The Black-throated Diver feeds primarily on fishdiving to as much as forty-five metres in pursuit of prey, but also eats crustaceans and molluscs and the occasional frog, worm and aquatic insects. Research Black-throated Diver
The canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is an American divingduck related to the pochard, but larger. The head is chestnut coloured, the back lighter, the beak long and narrow. The canvasback is a popular eating duck in America. Research Canvasback
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Diving
