Abstract:
An improved automatic precision baiting apparatus for use with long line fishing gear, the apparatus having a baiter housing, a magazine, a hook rail extension, a hook orientation means, a baiting area, a bait moving means for moving bait to the baiting area, and a bait cutting means; where an unbaited fish hook is drawn off the magazine, over the hook rail extension, and into the hook orienting means of the apparatus where it is positioned in anticipation of being baited; and where an uncut piece of bait is fed into the baiting area of the apparatus by the bait moving means and cut by the bait cutting means to the appropriate size, then held in the baiting area of the apparatus until engaged by a hook.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of automatic baiting devices for long line commercial fishing gear. More particularly, the present invention is directed to precision baiters which prepare bait for baiting hooks and attach said prepared bait onto said hooks. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Long line fishing gear is a type of fishing gear used by commercial fishermen to catch bottom feeding fish. Long line gear includes a ground line, two or more buoy lines attached at least at the ends of the ground line, buoys attached to the ends of the buoy lines, two or more anchors attached at least at the ends of the ground line, and a plurality of leaders attached to the ground line, with each leader comprised of a gangion, which attaches at one end to the ground line, and a barbed hook, which is attached to the other end of the gangion. The ground line itself is typically a nylon rope having a length of anywhere from several hundred yards to several miles. The gangions are typically made of monofilament nylon having a tensile strength somewhat less than the tensile strength of the ground line, so that if a hook snags or is taken by an overlarge fish the gangion will break before the ground line. The number and spacing of the gangions on the ground line depends on the type of fish being sought, as does the length of the gangions. For example, when fishing for hake, the gangions are typically spaced four feet apart and are each 20 inches long. When fishing for cod, on the other hand, the gangions are typically spaced six feet apart and are each 30 inches long; and when fishing for halibut the gangions are typically spaced twelve feet apart and are each five feet long. The gangions may be permanently attached to the ground line (such is known as “fixed gear”) or they may be removable from the ground line (such is known as “snap-on gear”). 
     To fish using long line gear, the following procedure is typically followed. First, the buoy line with buoy is let out and deployed from a fishing boat. Then an anchor is set, fixing one end of the ground line to the ocean floor. The remaining length of ground line is then set by the fishing boat moving away from the first anchor. The second anchor is then set, fixing the second end of the ground line to the ocean floor. The second buoy line and buoy are then deployed. If the ground line is particularly long, additional anchors, marked with buoys attached to buoy lines, may be deployed along its length. After an appropriate period of time, the fishing boat returns to an end of the ground line, retrieves the buoy line and takes up the ground line. Any fish that are caught on the hooks are removed as the ground line is hauled onto the fishing boat. 
     Before the ground line is deployed, the hooks at the end of each of the gangions need to be baited. Historically, this was done by hand, which was a slow, tedious, and dangerous operation. Over the past several decades mechanized or automatic baiting has been developed, allowing the more rapid and safer baiting of hooks. These devices typically apply the bait to the hooks as the ground line is being deployed by the fishing boat. That is, the ground line is passed through a mechanized baiting apparatus as it is deployed into the ocean, with the bait attaching to the hooks as the hooks pass through the device. 
     The most common type of mechanized baiting device is a snag baiter. A snag baiter places a quantity of bait (cut or uncut) into a container and then draws the hooks through the container and the mass of bait. The hooks pierce pieces of bait as they pass by (“snagging” the bait). While snag baiters employ a fairly simple design, they have the serious deficiency of not ensuring that any given piece of bait is securely affixed to the hook. Because the impact of the hook with the bait is haphazard, the hook may not fully penetrate the piece of bait, or it may pierce a weakened portion of the bait, resulting in the bait falling off the hook. Or the hook may not pierce any bait at all, merely pushing through the mass of bait without affixing any single piece. As such, snag baiters may leave many hooks unbaited, or worse, poorly baited, whereby the bait comes off the hook after the ground line is deployed, resulting in an unbaited hook and the loss of the bait. 
     Another type of mechanized baiting device is a precision baiter. A precision baiter places individual piece of bait in the direct path of the moving hooks. The path of the hooks is precisely defined, and the position of the bait is exact. This ensures that the hook will engage the bait in the proper location, and that all hooks will receive bait. However, precision baiters known in the art also have suffered from deficiencies, primarily as to how to properly deliver appropriately sized bait to the proper location for baiting. Most rely on precutting the bait, which is time consuming. 
     In addition, all known mechanized baiting devices can act on only a single length of ground line at a time. This greatly limits the overall length of the ground line to whatever can be stored on deck and fed into the device. If multiple lengths of shorter ground line are used, the baiting device must be turned off in order to attach the new length of ground line to the ground line that has already been baited and deployed. This is not only inefficient but also impractical to accomplish, as the movement of the fishing boat also must be altered to prevent further deployment of the ground line during the attachment process. It is therefore very difficult to use multiple lengths of ground line with known mechanical baiting devices. 
     It is therefore demonstrated that there is a need for a mechanical baiting device that has a high degree of baiting efficiency while also allowing for a minimum of preparation of the bait. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that ensures each hook is properly set into an appropriately prepared piece of bait. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that does not require precut bait but rather cuts the bait to desired sizes automatically. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that adapts to different forms of bait, such as fresh and frozen, when cutting the bait. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that allows for multiple lengths of ground lines to be stored and available for use without taking up an excessive amount of fishing boat deck space. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that allows for multiple lengths of ground line to be baited without interrupting the baiting process. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that comprises a double sided baiting path, for greater efficiency. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that allows for multiple magazines to organize and store gangions without tangling. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that allows for differently spaced gangions to be used on a ground line. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus that allows for different length gangions to be used on a ground line. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an improved automatic precision baiting apparatus for use with long line fishing gear. An unbaited fish hook is drawn through the apparatus where it comes in contact with a piece of bait and is impaled thereon, then the baited hook is drawn out of the apparatus and another unbaited hook repeats the cycle. Bait is fed into the apparatus and cut by the apparatus to the appropriate size, then held in the apparatus until engaged by each hook. 
     The apparatus comprises a baiter housing, a hook orienting means, a baiting area, a cutting blade, and a bait feeder. Also included in the device is a removable magazine attached to one end of the baiter housing. Operation of the apparatus includes moving unbaited hooks through the apparatus as the ground line is being deployed into the ocean. The magazine holds a plurality of hooks. A tub placed below the magazine contains the coiled ground line. Movement of an unbaited hook begins along the top edge of, and then off, the magazine and into the baiter housing, where the hook is received by the hook orienting means located on the baiter housing, where the hook is properly positioned. Simultaneously, uncut bait is moved by the bait feeder from a bait bin located on the baiter housing into the baiting area. The cutting blade cuts the bait to the desired size, and the cut bait is held in the baiting area as the properly positioned hook is moved along the hook orienting means into the baiting area and engages the bait. Once the bait is engaged by the hook the baited hook is moved out of the baiting area and out of the apparatus. 
     The magazine is designed to be removably attached to the baiter housing, so that multiple magazines may be swapped in and out of operation as multiple lengths of ground line are played out. In preferred embodiments the baiter housing further comprises a hook rail extending rearward, forming a connection between the magazine and the hook orienting means. The hook orienting means is a hook orienting slot formed into the baiter housing, adapted to receive a hook from the magazine and to orient it for proper engagement with the bait. The cut bait is held in the baiting area by a spring tensioned retention bar. The retention bar is biased in a down position by its spring; a piece of cut bait is pressed against the retention bar when the hook engages with the bait. The tension on the biasing spring is such that the force required to move the retention bar is greater than the force needed to allow the hook to properly engage the bait. This allows the bait to be properly and securely set onto the hook. Once the hook is set, however, the force on the retention bar continues to increase until the force on the retention bar overcomes the retention bar spring and moves the retention bar to an up position, allowing the hook with the cut bait engaged thereon to move out of the baiting area. 
     The operations of the cutting blade and the bait feeder are coordinated by synchronized switches. The bait feeder means moves uncut bait to the baiting area by a vertically oriented belt. When the bait reaches the baiting area it presses against a pressure plate located on the far wall, activating a switch which activates the cutting means and deactivates the bait feeder. The cutting means moves the cutting blade laterally, cutting the bait. The blade remains extended, separating the cut bait (in the baiting area) from the uncut bait (still in the bait feeder). At the same time that the cutting blade is extended, a retention bar moves into the down position in front of the cut bait. Thus, the cut piece of bait is secured on three sides: laterally by the pressure plate on the far side and by the extended blade on the near side (blocking the opening to the bait feeder), and in front by the retention bar. The fourth (back) side of the baiting area is open to allow the hook to travel towards the bait. Once the bait is engaged by the hook, the force of the hook being drawn by the ground line forces the retention bar up and the baited hook leaves the baiting area and leaves the apparatus. Once the bait leaves the baiting area there is no longer any pressure on the pressure plate, deactivating the switch and causing the cutting means to retract the blade, lift the retention bar, and reactivate the bait feeder, repeating the cycle for the next hook. 
     In the most preferred embodiments the apparatus is double sided, meaning that all of the elements described above are located on both the left side and right side of the baiter housing. That is, the baiter housing receives two magazines, has two parallel hook orienting slots located side by side, has two baiting areas supplied by two bait feeders and two bait bins. The double sided configuration allows a second magazine to be set up while a first magazine is being used. The leading end of the ground line in the second magazine can be secured to the trailing end of the ground line in the first magazine while the first ground line is being deployed and its associated hooks are being baited on the first side of the apparatus. This allows the second ground line to be deployed and its associated hooks baited on the second side of the apparatus without having to pause the deployment or baiting operations. Similarly, when the second magazine is being used, a third magazine may be set up on the first side, and so on, so that there is no limit to the number of lengths of ground line that can be deployed without having to stop the baiting process. This further allows for shorter lengths of ground line to be used, facilitating storage, manipulation of ground line, and fishing boat deck utilization. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention are described below. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a top plan view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a side plan view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a partial perspective view of the magazine. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a partial perspective view of the magazine cover. 
         FIG. 2C  depicts a partial perspective view of the magazine of  FIG. 2A  with the cover of  FIG. 2B  attached thereto. 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the hook rail extension, double sided. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective partial view of the apparatus, showing the magazine, hook rail extension, hook orienting means, and baiting area (not shown are the bait feeding means or cutting means). 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective partial view of the hook orienting means of the apparatus (with the outer panel shown in ghost line). 
         FIG. 6  is a front plan view of the hook orienting means, double sided. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan partial view of the bait feeder means and cutting means of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective partial view of the bait feeder means and baiting area of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 9A  is a plan side view of the baiting area depicting the movement of the retention bar. 
         FIG. 9B  is a plan side view of the baiting area depicting a piece of bait in the baiting area held in place by the retention bar in the down position. 
         FIG. 9C  is a plan side view of the baiting area depicting a baited hook being drawn out of the baiting area and moving the retention bar to the up position as it passed thereunder. 
         FIG. 10A  is a plan side partial view of the cutting means moving mechanism and the bait feeder means moving mechanism. 
         FIG. 10B  is a plan top partial view of the cutting means moving mechanism and the bait feeder means moving mechanism (in ghost line) 
         FIG. 11  is a stylized depiction of a fishing vessel deploying a ground line having hooks baited by the apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an apparatus  1  for automatically preparing bait  40  and engaging said prepared bait  40  onto hooks  30  associated with long line fishing gear. See  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The apparatus  1  is designed for use on the deck of a fishing vessel  50 . See  FIG. 11 . The apparatus  1  comprises a baiter housing  100  with a removably attached magazine  200 . The baiter housing  100  further comprises a hook rail extension  300 , a hook orienting means  400 , a baiting area  500 , a bait cutting means  600 , and a bait moving means  700  for moving bait  40  to the baiting area  500 . In the preferred embodiment the baiter housing  100  further comprises a second hook rail extension  350 , a second hook orientation means, a second baiting area, a second bait cutting means, and a second bait moving means, and there is a second magazine  250  removably attachable to the baiter housing  100 . In this embodiment the additional components are configured substantially identically to the originally described components, and are located alongside and substantially parallel to the originally described components. This embodiment will be referred to as a double-sided configuration. 
     The magazine  200  is substantially linear and substantially rigid, with an upwardly oriented hook rail  210  formed onto its top edge  212 . See  FIG. 2A . The hook rail  210  is suitably dimensioned to allow the curved part  32  of a hook  30  to fit over the hook rail  210 , with the barb  36  of the hook  30  oriented downward against the inside surface of the hook rail  210  and the shaft  34  of the hook  30  oriented downward against the outside surface of the hook rail  210 . The gangion  20  depends downward from the end of the shaft  34  of the hook  30  to a ground line  10  located in a tub  110  placed under the magazine  200 . The magazine  200  may further comprise a hook rail cap  214 . The hook rail cap  214  is substantially linear and located above and spaced apart from the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200 , forming a gap between the hook rail  210  and the hook rail cap  214 . See  FIG. 2A . The gap is slightly greater than the thickness of a hook  30  such that the barbed end  36  of a hook  30  can be inserted into the gap and placed onto the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200 . Use of the hook rail cap  214  minimizes the chance of hooks  30  falling off the hook rail  210  as they slide along and off the magazine  200 . The magazine  200  may be constructed of any appropriate material, such as stainless steel, Teflon®, high impact plastic, aluminum, and the like. 
     Hooks  30  placed onto the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200  slide along the hook rail  210  towards and off the proximate end  220  of the magazine  200  and onto the hook rail extension  300 . Because the magazine  200  is removable from the apparatus  1 , a length of ground line  10  maybe prepared by coiling the ground line  10  into a tub  110  and placing the associated hooks  30  onto the magazine  200 . A removable cover  240  may be placed onto the magazine  200  to hold the hooks  30  in place thereon. See  FIGS. 2B and 2C . The cover  240  may have flanges to allow it to snap onto the magazine  200 . It may be attached to the magazine  200  by mechanical fasteners or by elastomeric cords. In one embodiment the inside of the cover  240  is lined with an elastomeric material, to better retain the hooks  30  in the magazine  200 . In the preferred embodiment the cover  240  is constructed of stainless steel, though other materials may also be used, such as a high impact plastic, aluminum, and the like. So configured, multiple lengths of ground line  10  can be prepared in advance of use, each placed in a tub  110  and having its own associated magazine  200 . As ground line  10  is deployed into the ocean, a new length of ground line  10  is readied for use by swapping out the spent tub  110  and magazine  200  and replacing it with a new tub and magazine containing hooks  30 . 
     The magazine  200  is removably attached by its proximate end  220  to the hook rail extension  300 , which extends rearward from the baiter housing  100 . The attachment means may be any mechanical configuration suitable for the purpose. In the preferred embodiment, the proximate end  220  of the magazine  200  comprises a plurality of apertures, and the hook rail extension&#39;s  300  distal end comprises a complementary plurality of pegs extending therefrom, configured to be insertable into the apertures formed into the proximate end  220  of the magazine  200 . This allows for a secure fit as well as easy removal and reattachment of the magazine  200  onto the hook rail extension  300 . 
     The hook rail extension  300  is substantially linear and substantially rigid, see  FIG. 4 , with an upwardly oriented hook rail  310  formed onto its top edge  312 . The hook rail extension  300  extends rearward from the baiter housing  100 , with its distal end suitably adapted to engage the proximate end  220  of a magazine  200 , as described above. In the preferred embodiment, the end of the baiter housing  100  comprises a plurality of apertures, and the hook rail extension&#39;s  300  proximate end  320  comprises a complementary plurality of pegs extending therefrom, configured to be insertable into the apertures formed into the end of the baiter housing  100 . This allows for a secure fit of the hook rail extension  300  onto the baiter housing  100 . The hook rail  310  of the hook rail extension  300  is dimensioned substantially identically to the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200 , allowing a hook  30  to be placed thereon in substantially the same manner as it is placed onto the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200 . The hook rail extension  300  may further comprise a hook rail cap, which is dimensioned substantially identically to the hook rail cap  214  of the magazine  200 . The hook rail extension  300  may further comprise a plurality of brushes  330 , 380  located within the gap between the hook rail  310  and the hook rail cap. Such brushes  330 , 380  assist in orienting the hooks  30  as they are slid along and off the hook rail  310  of the hook rail extension  300 . The hook rail  310  of the hook rail extension  300  is aligned with the hook rail  210  of the magazine  200  when the magazine  200  is attached to the hook rail extension  300 , such that hooks  30  slide from the magazine  200  to the hook rail extension  300 . Hooks  30  then continue to slide along the hook rail  310  of the hook rail extension  300  towards and off the proximate end  320  of the hook rail extension  300  and into the hook orienting means  400 . The hook rail extension  300  may be constructed of any appropriate material, such as stainless steel, Teflon®, high impact plastic, and the like. In the preferred embodiment the hook rail extension  300  is constructed of aluminum. 
     In double sided embodiments of the present invention, a second hook rail extension  350  is configured substantially identically to the hook rail extension  300 , as described above, having an upwardly oriented hook rail  360  formed onto its top edge  362 . The second hook rail extension  350  extends rearward from the baiter housing  100  and is attached thereto by its proximate end  370 . In the most preferred embodiment, the second hook rail extension  350  is located lateral to the hook rail extension  300  and integrated therewith in a single unit. See  FIG. 3 . A magazine  200  can be attached to the hook rail extension  300  while a second magazine  250  can be simultaneously attached to the second hook rail extension  350 . The leading end of the ground line  10  associated with the second magazine  250  can be attached to the terminal end of the ground line  10  associated with the magazine  200 ; as that ground line  10  is completely deployed the second length of ground line  10  will immediately begin deploying. Then the first magazine  200  can be swapped out for another magazine with yet another length of ground line  10 , and the process repeats on the second side of the apparatus  1 . 
     The hook orienting means  400  is adapted to orient the hook  30  properly such that its barb  36  is directed forward in order to engage a piece of bait  40 . The hook orienting means  400  comprises a first hook orienting panel  410 , a second hook orienting panel  412 , a base panel  414 , a hook orienting slot  420 , a hook laydown bar  430 , and a gangion slot  440 . See  FIG. 5 . The first hook orienting panel  410  is substantially planar and oriented substantially vertically and substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the hook  30  as the hook  30  is drawn through the apparatus  1 . The second hook orienting panel  412  is configured substantially identically to the first hook orienting panel  410  and is oriented substantially vertically and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first hook orienting panel  410 . The base panel  414  is substantially planar and located below the first and second hook orienting panels  410 , 412 . It is oriented substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicular to the first and second hook orienting panels  410 , 412 . The hook orienting slot  420  is formed in the space between the first and second hook orienting panels  410 , 412  and above the base panel  414 . The first and second hook orienting panels  410 , 412  and the base panel  414  are constructed of any suitable material, such as stainless steel or aluminum. In the preferred embodiment the ends of the first and second hook orienting panels  410 , 412  closest to the hook rail extension  300  are slightly flared, to present a larger opening for hooks  30  sliding off the hook rail extension  300  and into the hook orienting slot  420 . 
     The hook orienting slot  420  receives the hook  30  from the proximate end  320  of the hook rail extension  300 . Before the hook  30  has slid off the hook rail extension  300  the gangion  20  has already entered a gangion slot  440  formed into and through the base panel  414 , running the entire length of the base panel  414 . As it slides off the hook rail extension  300  the hook  30  enters the hook orienting slot  420  shaft  34  first. The gangion slot  440  is oriented substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the hook  30  as the hook  30  is drawn through the apparatus  1 . See  FIG. 6 . This configuration allows the hook  30  to remain above the base panel  414  while the ground line  10  is located below the base panel  414 , with a portion of the gangion  20  being located above the base panel  414 , another portion of the gangion  20  being located within the gangion slot  440 , and the remaining portion of the gangion  20  being located below the base panel  414 . In the preferred embodiment the gangion slot  440  is angled laterally, to allow for the gangion  20  to pass through the base panel  414  while preventing the shaft  34  of the hook  30  from passing through the base panel  414 . See  FIG. 6 . 
     To keep the hook  30  from rotating out of its proper orientation while it travels through the hook orienting slot  420 , the hook orienting means  400  comprises a hook laydown bar  430 . See  FIG. 5 . The hook laydown bar  430  is substantially planar and elongate and located within the hook orienting slot  420 , above and spaced apart from the base panel  414 . It is further adjacent to the first hook orienting panel  410  and spaced apart from the second hook orienting panel  412 . So oriented, the hook laydown bar  430  creates a side gap between it and the second hook orienting panel  412  and a lower gap between it and the base panel  414 . These gaps are each just slightly wider than the thickness of a hook  30 . See  FIG. 6 . The shaft  34  of the hook  30  slides along within the lower gap, while the curved portion  32  of the hook  30  slides along within the side gap. The force pulling the gangion  20  draws the end of the shaft  34  of the hook  30  forward and downward, preventing the shaft  34  from lifting out of the lower gap, and the side gap prevents the curved end  32  of the hook  30  from rotating. In the preferred embodiment the hook laydown bar  430  is laterally movable within the hook orienting slot  420 , and biased towards the second hook orienting panel  412  by a spring  432 . A force acting on the hook laydown bar  430  moves the hook laydown bar  430  away from the second hook orienting panel  412  and the removal of said force from the hook laydown bar  430  allows the spring  432  to move the hook laydown bar  430  towards the second hook orienting panel  412 . This prevents binding if multiple hooks  30  should enter the hook orienting slot  420  at the same time. 
     In double sided embodiments of the present invention, a second hook orienting means  450  is configured substantially identically to the hook orienting means  400 , the second hook orienting means  450  having a first hook orienting panel  460 , a second hook orienting panel  462 , a base panel  464 , a hook orienting slot  470 , a hook laydown bar  480 , a laydown bar biasing spring  482 , and a gangion slot  490  configured as described above. In the preferred embodiment, the second hook orienting means  450  is located lateral to and substantially parallel with the hook orienting means  400 . See  FIG. 6 . 
     The baiting area  500  is located in the baiter housing  100  in line with and forward of the hook orienting slot  420 . See  FIG. 8 . The baiting area  500  is substantially open on three sides and bounded by a side wall  510  on a fourth side. The side wall  510  is oriented substantially parallel with the direction of travel of a hook  30  as the hook  30  moves along the hook orienting slot  420 . The base panel  414  of the hook orienting means  400  extends forward into the baiting area  500 , forming the bottom of the baiting area  500 . The gangion slot  440  continues through the baiting area  500 . The side wall  510  of the baiting area  500  has a baiting area switch  520  located thereon. The baiting area switch  520  is capable of being activated by contact with a piece of bait  40 . 
     The baiting area  500  has a bait entry point, located at the first of the substantially open sides of the baiting area  500  opposite the side wall  510  of the baiting area  500 . Bait  40  enters the baiting area  500  from the bait moving means  700  through the bait entry point. The baiting area  500  has an entrance region, located at the second of the substantially open sides of the baiting area  500 , between the hook orienting means  400  and the baiting area  500 . A hook  30  moving along the hook orienting slot  420  enters the baiting area  500  at its entrance region. The baiting area  500  has an exit region, located at the third of the substantially open sides of the baiting area  500  opposite the entrance region. A hook  30  moving through the baiting area  500  exits the baiting area  500  at its exit region. 
     The baiting area  500  further comprises a spring tensioned retention bar  540 . The retention bar  540  is located proximate to the exit region of the baiting area  500 . It has a down position and an up position, see  FIG. 9A , whereby when the retention bar  540  is in the down position it substantially blocks the exit region of the baiting area  500 , preventing items located within the baiting area  500  from exiting the baiting area  500 , see  FIG. 9B , and when the retention bar  540  is in the up position it substantially uncovers the exit region of the baiting area  500 , allowing items located within the baiting area  500  to exit the baiting area  500 , see  FIG. 9C . The retention bar  540  is suitably adapted to retain bait  40  placed within the baiting area  500  when the retention bar  540  is in the down position. When a sufficient force is applied to the retention bar  540  it is pivotally moved to the up position. See  FIG. 9C . The retention bar  540  is moved to the down position by its spring when the force is removed from it. The tension of the spring can be adjusted, to require more or less force to move the retention bar  540 . This is useful when different types of bait  40  are used. For example, fresh bait  40  requires less force for the hook  30  to penetrate it, so the retention bar spring can be set with less tension when using fresh bait  40 . Frozen bait  40 , however, requires more force for the hook  30  to penetrate it. If the retention bar  540  is too easily moved, the hook  30  may simply push the frozen bait  40  under and past the retention bar  540  without piercing the bait  40 . By increasing the tension of the retention bar spring, the frozen bait  40  is held in place longer until a greater force is applied; this greater force allows the hook  30  to pierce the frozen bait  40 . 
     The bait cutting means  600  comprises a cutting blade assembly  620 , a cutting blade  610 , and a cutting blade positioning device  630 . See  FIGS. 7 ,  10 A, and  10 B. The cutting blade  610  is attached to the cutting blade assembly  620 . The cutting blade assembly  620  is attached to the cutting blade positioning device  630 . The cutting blade assembly  620  is extendable and retractable, with the cutting blade positioning device  630  being suitably adapted to extend the cutting blade assembly  620  and to retract the cutting blade assembly  620 . Extension and retraction of the cutting blade assembly  620  moves the cutting blade  610  into and out of the baiting area  500 . The cutting blade  610  is suitably adapted to cut bait  40  located within the baiting area  500  when the cutting blade assembly  620  is extended. The cutting blade  610  is further suitably adapted to at least partially cover the open bait entry point of the baiting area  500  when the cutting blade assembly  620  is extended. When the cutting blade assembly  620  is retracted the cutting blade  610  at least partially uncovers the bait entry point of the baiting area  500 . So configured, the cutting blade  610  laterally retains cut bait  40  within the baiting area  500  when the cutting blade assembly  620  is extended. 
     The cutting blade positioning device  630  is further adapted to extend the cutting blade assembly  620  when the baiting area switch  520  is activated. The cutting blade positioning device  630  retracts the cutting blade assembly  620  when the baiting area switch  520  is deactivated. As described above, an uncut piece of bait  40  entering the baiting area  500  through the baiting area entry point comes into contact with the baiting area switch  520  located on the side wall  510  of the baiting area  500 , activating the baiting area switch  520 . Activation of the baiting area switch  520  causes the cutting blade positioning device  630  to extend the cutting blade assembly  620 , thereby moving the cutting blade  610  into the baiting area  500  and causing the cutting blade  610  to cut the bait  40  into its desired size. As long as the cut piece of bait  40  remains in the baiting area  500  the baiting area switch  520  remains activated and the cutting blade assembly  620  remains extended. Once the hook  30  pierces the cut bait  40  and draws it out of the baiting area  500 , the baiting area switch  520  is deactivated, causing the cutting blade positioning device  630  to retract the cutting blade assembly  620 , thereby retracting the cutting blade  610  and uncovering the baiting area entry point, allowing another piece of bait  40  to be moved into the baiting area  500 , repeating the process. In one embodiment the baiting area switch  520  is a pressure plate  522  having a biasing spring, with the biasing spring adapted to bias the pressure plate  522  into the baiting area  500 . 
     In one embodiment the cutting blade assembly  620  is further adapted to control the positioning of the retention bar  540 . Retraction of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the retention bar  540  being moved to the up position and extension of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the retention bar  540  being moved to the down position. This feature causes the retention bar  540  to be moved out of the way when a new piece of bait  40  is moved into the baiting area  500 . Movement of the retention bar  540  may be accomplished by a series of rods connecting the cutting blade assembly  620  with the retention bar  540 . A pulley and cable arrangement may also be used, as well as other means, such as electronic controls and actuators as are well known in the art. 
     In the preferred embodiment the cutting blade positioning device  630  comprises an air motor. See  FIGS. 10A and 10B . An air motor comprises a cylinder and a piston, and pneumatic means for rapidly moving the piston within the cylinder. Air pressure is directed by a valve into either the front or the rear of the cylinder; when air pressure is applied to the rear of the cylinder the piston is extended, and when air pressure is applied to the front of the cylinder the piston is retracted. Many different air motors are known in the art. An example of a preferred air motor is the Parker Hannifin Pneumatic Rotary Actuator™. 
     In double sided embodiments of the present invention, a second baiting area, a second retention bar, and a second bait cutting means are configured substantially identically to the baiting area  500 , the retention bar  540 , and the bait cutting means  600  as described above, with the same components. In the preferred embodiment, the second baiting area is located lateral to and substantially parallel with the baiting area  500 , and the second bait cutting means is located lateral to and substantially parallel with the bait cutting means  600 . 
     The bait moving means  700  comprises a bait feeder  710  and a bait feeder switch  730 . See  FIGS. 7 ,  10 A, and  10 B. The bait feeder  710  is located in a transport member  720 , with the transport member  720  being in communication with the baiting area  500  at the bait entry point. The transport member  720  may be any suitable structure, such as a conduit  722 . The bait feeder  710  is suitably adapted to move uncut bait  40  along the transport member  720  to and into the baiting area  500  through the open bait entry point of the baiting area  500 . In the preferred embodiment the bait feeder  710  comprises an air motor  712 , a drive wheel  714 , a belt  716 , and a clutch  717 . See  FIGS. 10A and 10B . The air motor  712  is suitably adapted to move the drive wheel  714 , the drive wheel  714  is suitably adapted to move the belt  716 , and the belt  716  is suitably adapted to move bait  40 . The air motor  712  is coupled to the drive wheel  714  by the clutch  717 , which is adapted to cause the air motor  712  to engage with and disengage from said drive wheel  714 , whereby the clutch  717  causes the air motor  712  to be engaged with the drive wheel  714  during the air motor&#39;s  712  power cycle and the clutch  717  causes the air motor  712  to become disengaged from the drive wheel  714  during the air motor&#39;s  712  return cycle. This allows for the use of a reciprocating air motor  712  while keeping the bait feeder  710  moving in one direction only. In the most preferred embodiment the belt  716  is oriented vertically, so that it contacts the side of bait  40 . See  FIG. 7 . Pins extending from the belt  716  may be used to engage the bait  40  to minimize slippage. 
     The bait feeder switch  730  is suitably adapted to activate and deactivate operation of the bait feeder  710 . The bait feeder switch  730  is adapted to being activated and deactivated by movement of the cutting blade assembly  620 . Retraction of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the bait feeder switch  730  activating the operation of the bait feeder  710  and extension of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the bait feeder switch  730  deactivating operation of the bait feeder  710 . In one embodiment the bait feeder switch  730  is a wobble switch, with the wobble switch being in contact with the cutting blade assembly  620 . See  FIG. 10B . The interaction of the bait feeder switch  730  and the baiting area switch  520  allows the apparatus  1  to automatically position and prepare bait  40  as the ground line  10  is deployed. As described above, the presence of bait  40  in the baiting area  500  causes the extension of the cutting blade assembly  620 . As further described above, extension of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the bait feeder switch  730  deactivating operation of the bait feeder  710 . Thus, once bait  40  is in the baiting area  500 , the bait feeder  710  stops moving bait  40 . Once the bait  40  leaves the baiting area  500 , the cutting blade assembly  620  is retracted, and as described above the retraction of the cutting blade assembly  620  results in the bait feeder switch  730  activating the operation of the bait feeder  710 . Thus, once the baiting area  500  is emptied of bait  40  the bait feeder  710  starts moving bait  40  again. 
     In double sided embodiments of the present invention, a second bait moving means is configured substantially identically to the bait moving means  700  as described above, with the same components. In the preferred embodiment, the second bait moving means is located lateral to the bait moving means  700 . See  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     In one embodiment the baiter housing  100  further comprises a bait bin  120 . See  FIG. 1 . The bait bin  120  is suitably adapted to contain a quantity of uncut bait  40 . The bait bin  120  is in connection with the transport member  720 , wherein the bait feeder  710  is suitably adapted to move uncut bait  40  from the bait bin  120  along the transport member  720  into the baiting area  500 . In double sided embodiments of the present invention, a second bait bin is located opposite the bait bin  120  and is connection with the second transport member  770 . 
     What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the apparatus  1  of the present invention along with some it its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Other embodiments not specifically set forth herein are therefore also within the scope of the following claims.