Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-03-11
What the professor said in reply,
history does not record.-Black and
White,
ScooPlNG UP FISHES
Lured by Headlight, They Are
Poured on Board in a Steady Stream.


Poured on Board in a Steady Stream.
The hcuseboat Atlantic, built eX-
pressly for the purpose of catching fish
by drawing them to the net by means
Of light, lies at the foot OF Henry
street. The Atlantic halls from Norfolk,
Va, and was brought up here to have
steam power installed.
Her owner and master Is Capt w.
E. Cole the patentee Of unique meth
cd Of applying the long-known fact
that a light attracts fish. Last season
the Atlantic operated in the waters
near Norfolk, and proved veritable
gold mine to her owner. The novelty
of the plan excited the curiosity of the
guests ct the hotels at Old Point, and
Capt. Cole took them out for the night
when they would have a chance to sec
the Atlantic's strange apparatus at
work. AS many as fifteen passengers
could be taken on these trips and they
paid the running expenses Of the boat.
s"You see," said Capt. Cole, "the idea
of attracting fish by means Of a light
is nothing new. Stand under light
near the water and you can see for
yourself that the fish flock to 1t. They
may retreat from the light, but as
soon as they reach the dark they will
return again"
To draw the unwary fish to his boat
Capt. Cole had a powerful headlight,
of 1000 candle power placed In the
bow near the water. Experience has
proved that a headlight similar to
those used on locomotives is the best
suited for the purpose. The past sum-
mer Capt. Cole tried searchlight, but
it threw it's rays parallel and they lay
"like a log on the water"
The headlight spreads the rays over
a wedge-shaped surface. All the while
the fishing is going on the Atlantic is
driven through the water at the rate OF
four or five miles an hour.
In front of his craft Capt. Cole has
another boat which floats the far, OF
wide end of funnel-shaped net. The
net he used was Is feet at the mouth,
tapering back to about 2 feet, and
four feet high. The rear or narrow
end of the net is supported by stage,
which gives a place for the workmen
to stand, for the apparatus needs sew
eral men to attend it. Behind the mar
row end of the scoop net is recep-
tacle into which the fish fall. From
there the catch can be dipped up with
hand nets and passed to the men on
the rear boat, who sort over the fish
throwing back those under size and
storing the rest away.
By propeiling the boat when the
fishing is going on constant stream
of fish, drawn TO the trap by the light,
is forced out Of the end Of the net by
their efforts to reach the light and the
motion Of the vessel. When the inven-
ton is got to work the fish pour in like
hailstones, and it requires eight or ten
men to dispose Of them.
To facilitate the handling of the
catch Capt. Cole has invented sort OF
conveyer, similar in principle to the
machines used to elevate coal, ore, dirt
Or other material Capt. Coles inven-
ton is made of net, and lifts the fish
from the rear end Of the scoop to the
boat behind. BY placing paddlewheels
in front Of lis vessel, which Is driven
through the water by her engines, the
power that drives the conveyer is OBJ
tained. If it is impracticable to use this
device, power from the engines can
drive the conveyer.-Baltimor Herald.