An Improved Fish Trap.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th, Sept., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fish Trap.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by James Allison, of Detroit, Alabama, U.S.A.
Inventor,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved fish trap, which is more effective than those
traps at present in use.
The trap comprises a rectangular frame having vertical corner posts. Suitable
glass doors are arranged in pairs on each side of the frame, and are hinged to the
corner posts in such manner that they open inwards. Springs consisting of a
single piece of metal rigidly secured to the corner posts, project inwardly from the
corner posts of the case, and tend to keep the glass doors closed. In the upper
part of the case is a perforated or lattice-work door. A. bail-handle is also secured
to the top for the purpose of enabling it to be conveniently carried. Bait is
placed within the casing, and can be seen by the fish, who enter by way of the
doors opening inwards, and when inside the springs closing the doors prevent
their exit.
Dated this 20th day of December 1890.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fish Trap.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18, Fulham Place, Paddington, London, Patent
Agent, (a communication from James Allison, United States) 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:--
My invention relates to improvements in fish-traps, the object thereof being to
provide a trap which may be used for catching either large fish, or minnows for
bait, or amphibious animals-as musk-rats, &c.; and it consists in a trap which is
made up of a frame consisting of top and bottom pieces suitably connected to each
other by corner-posts, to which frame are attached doors of transparent material-
as glass which are normally held closed by springs attached to the corner-posts,
so as to bear upon the doors, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional view, and Fig. 3 a
vertical section.
A refers to the top frame; B, the bottom frame, and C a central frame, which
divides the trap into compartments as shown.
The horizontal frames A, B and C are connected to each other by corner-
posts D, through which pass suitable pins for holding the frames apart.
The upper frame A. is provided with eyes a, with which engages a bail E, from
which the trap can be suspended. This frame A is also provided with a hinged
door F, which can be held closed by a suitable hook or fastening.
G, G, refers to gates, which are preferably made of glass, and have formed

page_text: thereon lugs or projections, which form pintles which lie within perforations
formed in the horizontal sections, so that the said doors may open and close.
If desirable, these doors may abut against each other or against stops carried by
the horizontal sections. The doors are held closed, by springs I, which are
preferably made up of a single piece of metal, and are attached to the corner-
posts D.
In capturing minnows, the bait may be suspended from the hinged cover, and
the fish pressing against the hinged doors, will open the same and pass in, when the
doors will immediately assume their closed position.
If desired, this trap may be used in connection with wings K, K, which extend
outwardly from the corners thereof.
I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide a fish-
trap with pivoted doors made up of wire; and I do not claim such as my invention,
as said doors in my opinion are objectionable, as they are visible to the fish,
whereas by providing transparent doors, said obstructions are not visible, and the
fish, not seeing the obstructions, will exert a sufficient force against the door to
open the same.
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 fish-trap, the combination of a rectangular frame having the vertical
corner-posts, glass doors arranged in pairs on each side and hinged to the corner-
posts, and springs secured to said frame and bearing against the inner sides of said
doors to normally hold the same closed, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with a frame having vertical corner-posts, glass doors arranged
in pairs at each side and hinged to the corner-posts, and wings K, extending
outwardly from the corners of the frame together with a bail secured to the latter,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a fish-trap, the combination of a rectangular frame having a bottom and
hinged top, transparent doors arranged in pairs on each side of the frame, springs 1,
made up of a single piece of spring metal rigidly secured to the corner-posts, so that
the spring members of the same will abut against the pivoted doors, substantially
as set forth.
Dhi rou 1
Ր
1
1001
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.