Abstract: A liquid sampling apparatus comprising a sample retention tube, a tube plug, and an operating rod and handle unit. The retention tube is an open-ended cylinder made from a thin material. The plug includes a lower body portion with a skirt type seal, a rod-receiving center section, and tapered guide surfaces extending from the center toward the top of the body. The plug is secured to one end of an operating rod, and the other end of the rod has a handle in the form of a loop and a transverse section. The rod handle configuration enables the plug to be positively located in one of two desired positions.