sb. [f. TOW sb.4 or v.1 + NET sb.1] A drag-net or dredge used for the collection of natural specimens. Hence Tow-net v., trans. to drag with a tow-net; intr. to use a tow-net; whence Tow-netter, Tow-netting vbl. sb.
1816. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, i. (1818), 9. The tow-net was put overboard, and collected some of these animals.
1883. C. F. Holder, in Harper’s Mag., Jan., 186/2. Dr. Bennet … captured a specimen in a tow-net.
1891. Herdman, in Nature, 23 July, 274/1. While townetting during the last few days about the North Cape, we have had some large hauls of Copepoda.
1894. Q. Rev., April, 367. The direct evidence of tow-netting the upper layers of water with fine silk nets.
1899. Geogr. Jrnl., Feb., 153. There are two schools of tow-netters: the old-fashioned method … by which the nets are towed horizontally; and the new method, by which an opening and closing net is let down as vertically as may be, and hauled in open through a given vertical area and then closed.
1902. R. Valentin, in Jrnl. R. Inst. Cornw., XV. 84. No ephyræ were obtained in any of the tow-nettings made in the spring.
