IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CATCHING FISH
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Bryson, of the City of Edinburgh, Watch
Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CATCHING
FISH."
Sealed the 17th July 1866, and dated the 20th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Bryson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th January 1866.
I, ALEXANDER BRYSON, of the City of Edinburgh, Watch Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR CATCHING FISH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to improved apparatus for maintaining
artificial light under water for the purpose of attracting or decoying fish.
This apparatus consists of a copper vessel having two compartments, into one
of which oxygen is forced or condensed, while the other contains bydrogen,
also forced or condensed. Each compartment is provided inside with a
valve to regulate the escape of the oxygen and hydrogen to the point of
combustion, so that these gases are not allowed to mix except at that point,
and explosion is thereby prevented. Light having been applied to the gases,
the apparatus is lowered into the water and the gases continue to burn
until entirely consumed, the presence of atmospheric air to keep up com-
bustion not being necessary. The light is covered with a water-tight glass
globe provided with a receptacle to contain the water generated during the

page_text: combustion. The light when introduced under the water attracts the fish
thereto, as well known. Lime or other substances may be employed in
contact with the gases.
My Invention relates, secondly, to improved arrangements of nets or other
engines for catching fish attracted by artificial light. I employ two nets or
engines, the upper being larger than the lower; I attach weights to the cir-
cumference of the upper net, and floats at and near its centre. The lower net
being placed under the light I let down the upper net over it, which owing
to the weights and floats descends somewhat in the form of an umbrella and
encloses all the fish within its reach, which are thereby caught between the
.two nets.
SPECIFICATION.in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Bryson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
BRYSON, of the City of Edinburgh, Watch Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander Bryson, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Bryson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Bryson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CATCHING FISH," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alexander Bryson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next.
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Bryson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: Fig. 2 is a top view of the upper net, and shews the rim and rib and
concentric expanders (the floats and sinking weights are also shewn lettered
with similar letters to those in Fig. 1. i, i, are openings left between double
ribs for the suspending lines. of the under net to work in as they are more or
less expanded at the surface; j is the main suspending cord for raising and
lowering the upper net; k is a smaller cord or light suspending line; 1, the
tube for conveying bait or other matter from the surface to the space between
the nets for attracting the fish when the light is not used. The light is
intended for night, and the tube for day fishing.
Fig. 3 shews the form of the lamp for artificial light. n is a strong upper
vessel divided into two compartments, into one of which oxygen is forced by
mechanical means, the other containing condensed hydrogen; these gases are
prevented from comingling except when required at the point of combustion;
explosions are thus avoided. Each compartment is fitted internally with a
self-acting barometic valve formed on the principle of Bourdin's barometer,
which regulates the escape of the gases as required. The gases when ignited
are made to act on a cone or cylinder of lime n¹, the same as in the
Drummond's light. My improvement consists in the introduction of the
valves; the light and apparatus are covered with two water-tight bell-shaped
glasses o, o, both of which are rendered safe by being closed in a gauze or
net of wire. I also employ an electro-magnetic light with a Leyden jar in
proximity to the luminous points to increase the brilliency of the light. I
further propose to use paraffin oil or other hydrocarbons to produce a brilliant
light, the carbonic oxide being taken away by mechanical means, or the
noxious product being drawn off into a separate vessel.
I claim the arrangement of nets, apparatus, and improved lamp or
submerged light in conjunction therewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Bryson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ALEXANDER BRYSON. (L.S.)