It was a good day on the water! Holland students spent some time on the Susan Hudson, the Duke University trawler. Boys went out first and then the girls followed them.

During the trip, two different types of nets are used. One is a dredge net - it is like a big basket that is dragged on the bottom of the harbor to collect shell debris. When the huge pile of shells is dumped on the rear deck, the students find all kinds of marine life hidden among the broken shells. They found a variety of crabs - mud crabs, chip crabs, hermit crabs - brittles stars, urchins, blood worms, chitons, and many other things.

The second net that is thrown out is a trawl net. It opens up wide behind the boat and is dragged far behind the boat and catches whatever is swimming along the bottom. There was a lot swimming in its path this year. The catch included two large sting-rays, a bunch of squid, two sea robins, a variety of fish, and a few blunt-nosed sharks. All of the students had an opportunity to touch or hold the specimens. It was pretty exciting to be able to hold a shark!