silicone or other type of adhesive by molding the mesh integrally with the cover if both the mesh and cover are made of a plastic material or by sliding the mesh into grooves not shown precut on two opposite longitudinal edges of the slot depending on the length of slot 18 the wire mesh may be made from a single piece or from two pieces butted together as at 26 the mesh is selected so that it provides a support for the press fabric without letting it protrude into the slot 18 the mesh has a plurality of holes such as 28 which are large enough so that as water is extracted from the fabric the holes are not plugged up by papermaking fillers the operation of the suction box with the improved cover shall now be described the suction box is disposed in a paper machine such as for example its press section transverse to the continuous path of a press fabric the press fabric 30 passes over the cover in a continuous movement indicated by the arrow 32 the vacuum in suction box 10 extracts water from the fabric through slot 18 and mesh 24 the mesh is constructed and arranged to fit in recess 22 to support the fabric therefore the mesh prevents any contact between the fabric and the side walls defining slot 18 thereby eliminating undesirable noise and reducing the wear on the fabric and its seam not shown as previously mentioned the suction box may also be disposed in the forming section for removing.