Improvements in Fishing Hooks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1895-Accepted. 25th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fishing Hooks.
I, GEORGE HENRY PIERCE of Pleudihen, Cotes du Nord, France, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improvement in artificial bait for fishing, and has for
its object to provide an arrangement by means of which the fish when once it has
bitten will be secured and effectually prevented from escaping by tearing itself
away from the hooks.
My invention relates especially to spinning bait, which is furnished with small
wing pieces causing the bait when drawn through the water to turn, attracting the
attention of the fish. In the common form of bait the fish is liable to disengage
itself, and in order to obviate this I construct the device in such a manner that
immediately the fish pulls, the hooks will spring apart and thus any further pull
will only cause them to enter more completely into the mouth of the fish.
In carrying out my invention, the stem or part carrying the books, is made of
minnow form in bright metal and is split, and the barbed hooks are formed at the
extremities of a length of spring wire, doubled at the centre and inserted in the
To secure
slot. The doubled wire tends to spring open at its ends when released.
it in ordinary position ready for use, it is bent over inwardly at each end (the
ordinary hooks being at the outer side) thus forming small hooks which can engage
with the extremity of the stem. The wire is held by this means in compressed
position, but immediately a pull is given, the retaining hooks will be pulled out of
the way of the stem, and will free the wire, the ends of which with the hooks will
then spring apart.
A sinall cross pin or other device is employed to prevent the
wire and hooks being pulled out too far,
Dated this 19th day of March 1895.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Fisning Hooks.
1 GEORGE HENRY PIERCE of Pleudihen, Cotes du Nord, France, 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 an improvement in artificial bait for fishing, and has for
its object to provide an arrangement by means of which the fish when once it has
bitten, will be secured and effectually prevented from escaping by tearing itself
away from the hooks.
My invention relates especially to spinning bait, which is furnished with small
wing pieces causing the bait when drawn through the water to turn, attracting the
attention of the fish. In the common form of bait the fish is liable to disengage

page_text: itself, and in order to obviate this I construct the device in such a manner that
immediately the fish pulls, the hooks will spring apart and thus any further pull
will only cause them to enter more completely into the month of the fish.
In carrying out my invention, the stem or part carrying the hooks is made of
minnow form in bright metal, and is split, and the barbed hooks are formed at the
extremities of a length of spring wire, doubled at the centre and inserted in the
slot. The doubled wire tends to spring open at its ends when released. To secure
it in ordinary position ready for use small hooks are formed at the inner side
which can engage with the stem or pins fixed in the latter. The wire is held by
this means in compressed position, but immediately a pull is given the retaining
hooks will be pulled out of the way of the stem, and will free the wire, the ends of
which with the hooks will then spring apart.
A small cross pin or other device is employed to prevent the wire and hooks
being pulled out too far.
Other simple devices may be employed for the purpose of securing the hooks in
closed position than that described above, the general construction remaining
the same.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the improved bait with the hooks shewn in open
position,
Fig. 2 is a similar view with the hooks collapsed, and
Fig. 3 is a view at right angles.
A is the body of the bait or the minnow provided with the wings a one at each
side causing the bait to revolve when pulled through the water. A ring a¹ is
secured to the top in the usual manner for the purpose of attachment to the line.
The slot B extends from the extremity of the minnow almost to the wings, and
within this slot or groove the spring C is fitted. The spring consists of a length
of wire doubled at the centre the ends tending to spring outwards or separate. To
each end of this spring, the fish hooks D are fitted single or double, hooks being
employed according to the purpose for which the bait is required.
When the hooks are pulled out by the fish on biting they will spring outwards
and tend to take up the position shewn in Fig. 1 thus engaging more effectually in
the mouth of the fish.
To prevent the hooks coming out too far a small pin c is
employed fitted to the minnow and passing between the two sides of the spring.
The spring is thus prevented from being pulled out past this pin.
To secure the hooks in closed position the small hooks c' are formed on the
inside of each portion of the spring. These hooks c are adapted when the spring
is pushed in to engage with the pin a² secured near the extremity of the minnow.
On pulling out the spring a short distance these hooks will disengage, and the fish
hooks can spring apart.
To remove the spring more easily in case of accident, an opening may be formed
in the side of the minnow of suitable shape to allow the spring to pass.
Instead of the cross pin engaging with the hooks c' a small ring may be inserted
in the extremity of the minnow, the hooks engaging with the end of the said ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) Improvements in artificial bait consisting in fitting in the bait a spring
adapted to be held in collapsed position and to expand when seized by the fish,
books being secured at each end of the said spring substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
(2.) In an improved artificial bait a spring formed from doubled wire secured in
a slot in the body of the bait adapted to be secured in collapsed position, and to
expand when pulled out, hooks being secured on each end substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.

page_text: (3.) In an improved artificial bait the combination with a slot in the body of the
bait of a doubled spring carrying hooks at each end secured in the said slot,
adapted to expand when partially withdrawn, and to be held in closed position by
means of small hooks at the inner side of the spring engaging with the body of the
bait substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(4.) The improved artificial bait in which the hooks are secured at the ends of a
spring adapted to be collapsed or expanded, substantially as described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 19th day of December 1895.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37 Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.