How do the French account for 1/3 of all their canal digging?

The French account for 1/3 of all their canal digging in April of 1883, when they tow their first massive steam-powered dredges in. These dig out earth via an endless chain of enormous, iron buckets. They wash it clear of the site down chutes. In the mudflats of Limon Bay rapid progress is made, however, they slow down inland. This is the means by which a third of all digging in the French canal project is accomplished.