Improvements in and relating to Trolling Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Trolling Apparatus.
I, HENRY JUSTUS WELCH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at Carthage in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, one of the United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trolling devices,
and it has more particular reference to that class of trolling apparatus in which
live bait is employed.
It has
The invention has for its object to provide a device of this character by the use
of which the fish or other living object which is used as bait may be incased
within a transparent receptacle through which a constant circulation of water is
maintained, whereby the bait may be kept alive for an indefinite length of time;
thus avoiding the necessity of frequently adjusting or renewing the bait.
heretofore been necessary, where live bait has been employed for trolling purposes,
to fasten the fish used as bait to the hooks, by passing the hooks through the body
of the fish, thus inflicting painful injuries to the fish which soon result in its death,
and a renewal of the bait is found to be necessary.
My invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this Specification, like
letters of reference indicating the same parts throughout the several views, and in
which drawings-
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the bait holding receptacle, and
Figure 2 is a side view of the device complete, with the line and hooks attached
and the bait inclosed.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A, designates
an elliptical chamber of some transparent substance, preferably glass. The ends
of the chamber are truncated, and provided with caps, B, and C, respectively,
which will now be particularly described. The cap, B, may be constructed integral
with and forming a part of the chamber A, or, if preferred, it may be constructed
separately and be adapted to be readily attached to the end of the chamber by
screw-threading or in any other suitable manner. This cap is provided with an
opening at its extreme end, as shown at a, for the admission of water into the
chamber, and, if desired, supplementary openings, a¹, may also be provided, though
these last-named openings are not in all cases necessary.. The cap or cork C, at
the opposite end of the chamber A is adapted to be fitted into the open end of the
chamber, and the rear portion of the cap is provided with a peripheral groove b,
for convenience in attaching the line or snell carrying the hooks, as will be readily
understood. The cap, C, is also provided with an opening c, for the passage of the
water, and when desired the rear end of the chamber A may be provided with
similar openings, c', for a like purpose,

page_text: *
In Figure 2 of the drawings I have illustrated but one of the numerous arrange-
ments which may be adopted, with reference to the disposition of the line and
hooks. It will of course be understood that this arrangement may be varied as
experience may dictate or circumstances may require.
In use, the fish or other form of live bait to be used is placed within the
chamber A, by removing the cap or cork, Č. The cork is then replaced, and the
device is in readiness for use. It will be seen that the movement of the device
through the water will cause a continuous current of water to be maintained
through the chamber, keeping the bait alive for an indefinite period of time.
.
While I have described a particular form of chamber or bait receptacle, and
prefer this form, still it is at once evident that the form or size of the chamber
may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, which contem-
plates broadly the use of a transparent inclosing chamber for bait in fishing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a trolling device, a transparent receptacle adapted to receive the bait and
provided with openings for the passage of water through the receptaclé, and swells
of lines attached to' said' receptacle and carrying hooks, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
27 In a trolling device of the character described, the combination with a trans-
parent chamber having one of its ends provided with. a perforated. cap; and its
opposite end closed by means of a cork or its equivalent, said. cork being pro-
vided with a peripheral groove, of a snell or. line having one of..its ends secured
within said groove, and carrying books, substantially as described and. for. the.
'purpose specified.
Dated this 4th Adin Al
JENSEN & SON,
77; Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Pätëht' Agents.