Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-01-24
scooPINe UP FISHES.

Lured by Headlight, They Are
Poured on Board in a Steady Stream.
The household 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
Va. and was brought up here TO have
steam power installed.
Her owner and master is Capt. w.
f. Cole, the patentee of a unique meth
cd of applying the longknown fact
that a light attracts fish Last season
the Atlantic operated in the waters
near Norfolk. and proved a veritable
GOLD mine to her owner. The novelty
of the plan excited the curiosity OF the
guests at the hotels at Old Point. and
Capt. Cole t~9k them out for the night
when they would have a chance to see
the Atlantic's strange apparatus at
work. As many as fifteen passengers
could be taken en- these trips and they
paid tho running expenses OF the boat
You see," said Capt. Cole. the idea
of attracting fish by means of light
is nothing new Stand under light
near the water and you can see for
yourself that the fish flock TO it. 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 a searchlight. but
it threw its rays parallel and they lay
like n 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 en- hour.
In front of his craft Capt. Cole has
another boat which floats the far. or
wide end of funnelshaped net. The
net he used was Is feet at the mouth
tapering back to about feet. and
four feet high. The rear or narrow
end OF the net is supported by a 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 a 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 propelling the boat when the
fishing is going on a 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 a 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 his vessel, which is driven
through the water by her engines. the
power that drives the cOnveyer is OBJ
tanned. If it is impracticable to use this
device. power from the engines can
drive the congratulations Herald