The earliest dredges were spoon dredges – a leather or canvas bag tied around an iron loop attached to a pole (1). The spoon was dragged towards the bow by a winch (2) then lifted and the contents dumped into a sluice box (3). A pump (4) driven by a waterwheel (5) provided water for washing the gravel in the sluice box.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Tyree Studio Collection (PAColl-3064)
Reference:
10x8-0503; G
Diagram by John Barry
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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