towing1 (toing)

[Verbal n. of towl, v.] 1. The act or work of drawing anything in tow; also, a charge made or an expense incurred for towing a ve el to or from her wharf, etc.; towage. 2. A sort of dredging done with a towing-net dragged over the surface of the water for the purpose of procuring specimens of natural history; also, the net results of such dredging, or the specimens thus procured. A collection received from him in June indicates that the many rare opportunities afforded him for obtaining specimens [in dredging) were not neglected, and the surface towings he obtained are very rich in interesting forms. Smithsonian Report , 1887, ii. 135.