Improvements in connection with Fishing Trawl Nets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 19th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Fishing Trawl Nets.
I, HENRY SMETHURST, of 6, Pelham Terrace, Grimsby, in the County of Lincoln,
Fish Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in connection with
trawl nets the object of the invention being to distend the mouth of the net during
the operation of trawling thereby facilitating the entrance of the fish into the net.
In carrying my invention into effect I arrange a float in the form of a tube or
tubes having compressed air within them the tubes being of a diameter in length
suitable for being carried within sleeves or bags attached or formed upon the head
line of the net.
I make my floats watertight and fill them with air by means of a pump similar
to that employed in connection with the ordinary pneumatic cycle tyre and employ
any well known retaining valve for this purpose, the tube when distended filling
the canvas or other protecting sleeve and thus by its buoyancy preventing the
sagging which is common to the nets now in ordinary use. The sagging which
occurs with the ordinary nets is sometimes so great as to practically close the net.
I am aware that air bladders and hollow rubber balls have been employed along
the head line of the net for the purpose of distending it but the use of such bladders
is objectionable owing to their offering so much resistance to the passage of the
nets through the water.
I arrange my tubular or pneumatic floats upon the head line of the net in posi-
tions where they would be serving to best advantage for the operation of distend-
ing it, modifying the form of the tube and the shape of its casing or protecting
sleeve to suit the weight and form of the net which is employed.
I distend the net laterally by any ordinary trawl boards or other arrangements
in common use.
Improvements in connection with Fishing Trawl Nets.
I, HENRY SMETHURST, of 6, Pelham Terrace, Grimsby, in the County of Lincoln,
Fish Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
[Price 8d.1

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:--
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in connection with
trawl nets, the object of the invention being to distend the mouth of the net
during the operation of trawling thereby facilitating the entrance of fish into
the net.
41720
**
t
My invention is. illustrated in the accompanying drawing which represents a
trawl net and trawl boards.
In carrying my invention into effect as illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ings I arrange a float in the form of a tube or tubes A having compressed air
within them the tubes A being of a diameter and length suitable for being carried
within cover sleeves or bags attached or formed upon the head line B of, the net F.
In the drawing, C, C, represent the trawl boards which have suitably connected
thereto the warps D I connected to the stern of the trawler, and E represents
the foot rope.
.
I make my floats A watertight and fill them with air by means of a pump similar
to that employed in connection with the ordinary pneumatic cycle tyre and employ
any well known retaining valve for this purpose, the tube when distended filling
the canvas or other protecting sleeve and thus by its buoyancy preventing the
sagging which is common to the nets now in ordinary use. The sagging which
occurs with the ordinary nets is sometimes so great as to practically close the.net.
I am aware that air bladders and hollow rubber balls have been employed along.
the head line of the nut for the purpose of distending it but the use of such bladders
is objectional owing to their offering so much resistance to the passage of the
nets through the water.
I arrange my tubular or pneumatic floats A upon the head line of the net in
position where they would be serving to best advantage for the operation of dis-
tending it, modifying the form of the tube and the shape of its casing or protecting
sleeve to suit the weight and form of the net which is employed.
I distend the net laterally by any ordinary trawl boards such as C or other
arrangements in common use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I
claim is:-
of my said inven-
declare that what I
1.-Means for distending the head line of a trawl net consisting of a tube or tubes
secured thereto substantially as described.
2. Means for distending the head line of a trawl net substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated.
Dd th: 10th 1
1000
.12