Abstract: A cargo bag made from a generally flat piece of canvas or the like has a plurality of attachment loops along its peripheral edge. The bag is attached to the operating cable of a crane by a coupling device that releasably engages some of the cargo bag loops. One of the loops is unreleasably carried by a fixed hook. The remainder of the loops are retained by the fingers of a shiftable fork assembly. The fork assembly is pivotably between a bag retaining position and a bag release position. A remotely actuated, hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly provides for selective shifting of the fork assembly between the cargo bag retaining and release positions.