Improvements in Electric Fishing Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVIDIUNAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Fishing Apparatus.
I, IVAN WERNER JOHANNES LINDBOHM, of 3, Bangatan, Helsingfors, Finland,
Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the capture of fish by killing
or stunning them by means of an electric shock, and it consists in providing
a fishing rod with electrical appliances whereby a fish on seizing the baited
hook receives an electric shock sufficiently severe to prevent it from so struggling
as to escape from the hook or break the tackle.
According to my invention the fishing rod, which is more especially designed
for the capture of salmon and other large and powerful fish, is provided with
an electric battery which may be put, by the person manipulating the rod, into
circuit with the primary winding of an induction coil whose secondary winding
is connected on the one hand with an insulated conductor to which the fish hook
is attached and which constitutes or is in one with the fishing line properly
so-called, and on the other hand with a second insulated conductor forming a
so-called "trailing line." The end of this trailing line is, during the fishing
operation, immersed in the water so that when a fish seizes the hook the person
holding the rod can, by merely pressing a knob, close the circuit through the
battery and induction coil thus sending a powerful current through the secondary
circuit of the coil which circuit is completed through the water and the body of
the fish, the latter being in consequence either killed outright or so stunned as
to be rendered incapable of offering resistance to capture.
The fishing rod itself may be of the usual construction, the battery and in-
duction coil or either of them being separate from and connected with the rod
by flexible conductors.
The improved fishing rod in its preferred form comprises a hollow cylindrical
handle portion terminating at the butt end in a hollow spherical knob and
connected by a suitable screw or other joint with the main portion of the rod
which may be formed in the usual manner but has the section next the handle
preferably hollow to contain an electric battery. Within the handle is the
induction coil, electrical connection between which and the battery may be
established or broken at will through a switch actuated by means of an external
sliding knob situated within convenient reach of the hand. One end of the
primary winding of the induction coil terminates in a contact spring on top of
the coil, the spring being in permanent contact, when the coil is placed within the
handle, with a second contact spring which by means of knob can be caused to make
or break connection at will with a metallic cap or socket enclosing the lower end
of the battery and forming one pole of said battery. The other pole of the
battery is formed by a spiral spring upon the end of which is soldered a convex
metal button which when the handle and main portion of the rod are fitted
together engages in a corresponding concavity in a bowed metal bracket fixed
on top of the coil and connected to the other end of its primary winding.

page_text: The upper end of the secondary winding of the induction coil is connected by
a wire with a terminal screw passing through the wall of the tubular handle
and carrying outside the latter a contact spring which is pressed upon by another
contact spring fixed on the sole plate of the bracket in which the reel for the
fishing line is mounted to revolve, this reel being fixed to the rod by one arm of
its sole plate being inserted beneath a looped projection fixed on the rod
whilst the oppositely directed arm is secured beneath a slidable ring. The
contact spring is connected by means of a wire with a metal disc fixed concen-
trically on one of the bearings in which the reel is journabled', the disc main-
taining rubbing contact with a similar disc fixed concentrically on the reel
itself and coupled by a wire with the insulated conductor which constitutes or is
in one with the fishing line.
The lower end of the secondary winding of the induction coil is connected
with an insulated conductor which forms the " trailing line," by means of a
wire connected by a suitable terminal with a contact spring which forms rubbing
contact with the projecting metallic flange of a spool upon which the trailing
line is wound, the conductor itself being in electrical connection with said
flange. The trailing line is normally kept coiled upon the spool after the manner
of a self-winding tape measure, by means of a flat spiral spring within the spool.
The spring when put in tension by the drawing out of the line is set free so as
to effect the re-winding of the line by its recoil, by means of a push button
normally pressed outwards by a spiral spring and sliding in a fixed tube form-
ing the axial bearing for the spool. The inner end of the push button has an
arm or armis projecting through a slot or slots in the wall of the tube and form-
ing a detent pawl or pawls normally engaging the teeth of a crown ratchet wheel
in one with the spool. The line when drawn out is so maintained, against the
stress of the coiled spring, by the engagement of the pawl or pawls with the
teeth of the wheel, and is automatically rewound when pressure is applied
to the button so as to raise the pawl or pawls out of engagement with the teeth.
The outer end of the trailing line is provided with a metallic knob or ball
serving as a means of grasping the line to facilitate its being drawn out to the
required extent, and also as a terminal for the passage of the electric current
when the lines are immersed in the water.
Dated this 20th da
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in Electric Fishing Apparatus.
I, IVAN WERNER JOHANNES LINDBOHM, of 3, Bangatan, Helsingfors, Finland,
Superintendent, 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 implement for catching fish, and consists in
the combination with a fishing rod of an electric appliance, whereby to kill or
stupify a fish which has taken the bait, and so becomes attached to the hook,
the use of the invention thus enabling a fish to be easily drawn up to the boat
or shore and removed from the water.
The invention differs from other electric fishing apparatus inasmuch as by
it the important qualities of facility of manipulation and portability are pre-

page_text: served in the fishing rod. In contra-distinction to previously known apparatus,
the contrivance remains a true sporting appliance, or in other words it consti-
tutes a fishing implement easily manipulated by a single person. Further; the
invention is distinguished as to its method of working by the application of an
induced electric current, which however is not self-acting (since that would
involve uncertainty in operation) but is only brought into action each time as
required, by a special manipulation of the fishing rod.
According to my invention the fishing rod (which is more especially designed
for the capture of salmon and other large and powerful fish) is provided with
an electric battery which may be put, by the person manipulating the rod, into
circuit with the primary winding of an induction coil whereof the secondary
winding is connected on the one hand with an insulated conductor to which
the fish hook is attached and which constitutes or is in one with the fishing line
properly so-called, and on the other hand with a second insulated conductor
forming so-called “trailing line." The end of this trailing line is, during the
fishing operation, immersed in the water so that when a fish seizes the hook
the person holding the rod can, by merely pressing a knob, close the circuit
through the battery and induction coil, thus sending a powerful current through
the secondary circuit of the coil which circuit is completed through the water
and the body of the fish, the latter being in consequence either killed out-
right or so stunned as to be rendered incapable of offering resistance to capture.
The fishing rod itself may be of the usual construction, the battery and in-
duction coil or either of them being separate from and connected with the rod by
flexible conductors.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of
this specification wherein Figure 1 is a general view of the improved fishing rod
drawn to a small scale. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the handle end of
the rod. Figure 3 is a cross section through the knob forming the butt end of
the handle. Figure 4 is an axial section of the reel for the fishing line, and
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the joint connecting the handle with
the main portion of the rod.
The improved fishing rod in its preferred form comprises a hollow cylindrical
handle portion 1 terminating at the butt end in a hollow knob as shewn, and
connected by a suitable screw or other joint as indicated in Figures 2 and 5
with the main portion 2 of the rod which may be formed in the usual manner
but has the section next the handle 1 preferably hollow to contain an electric
battery 3. It is advisable that the rod and handle be composed of non-conduct-
ing material.
Within the handle 1 is the induction coil 4, electrical connection between
which and the battery 3 may be established or broken at will through a switch
actuated by means of an external sliding knob 5 situated within convenient
reach of the hand. One end of the primary winding of the induction coil ter-
minates in a contact spring 6 on top of the coil, the spring 6 being in permanent
contact, when the coil is placed within the handle 1, with a second contact
spring 7 which by means of knob 5 can be caused to make or break connection
at will with a metallic cap or socket enclosing the lower end of the battery 3
and forming one pole of said battery. The other pole of the battery 3 is formed
by a spiral spring 8 upon the end of which is soldered a convex metal button 9
which when the handle 1 and main portion 2 of the rod are fitted together engages
in a corresponding concavity in a bowed metal bracket 10 fixed on top of the
coil 4 and connected to the other end of its primary winding.
The upper end of the secondary winding of the induction coil is connected by
a wire 11 with a terminal screw 12 passing through the wall of the tubular
handle and carrying outside the latter a contact spring 13 which
is pressed upon by another contact spring 14 fixed on the sole
plate of the bracket in which the reel 15 for the fishing line is mounted to
revolve, this reel being fixed to the rod by one arm of its sole plate being inserted

page_text: beneath a looped projection 28 fixed on the rod whilst the oppositely directed
arm is secured beneath a slidable ring 29. The contact spring 14 is connected
by means of a wire 19 with a metal disc 30 fixed concentrically on one of the
bearings in which the reel 15 is journalled, the disc 30 maintaining rubbing
contact with a similar disc 31 fixed concentrically on the reel itself and coupled
by a wire 32 with the insulated conductor which constitutes or is in one
with the fishing line 16 as shewn in Figure 4.
The lower end of the secondary winding of the induction coil 4 is connected
with the insulated conductor 27 which forms the "trailing line," by means of
a wire 11 connected by a suitable terminal with a contact spring 17 which makes
rubbing contact with the projecting metallic flange of a spool 18 upon which
the trailing line 27 is wound, the conductor itself being in electrical connection
with said flange. The trailing line 27 is normally kept coiled upon the spool 18
after the manner of a self-winding tape measure, by means of a flat spiral spring
within the spool as shewn. The spring when put in tension by the drawing out
of the line 27, is set free (so as to effect the rewinding of the line by its recoil)
by means of a push button 22 normally pressed outwards by a spiral spring 24
and sliding in a fixed tube 20 forming the axial bearing for the spool 18. The
inner end of the push button 22 has an arm or arms 23 projecting through a slot
or slots in the wall of the tube 20 and forming a detent pawl or pawls normally
engaging the teeth of a crown ratchet wheel 25 in one with the spool 18. The
line 27 when drawn out is so maintained against the stress of the coiled spring
by the engagement of the pawl or pawls 23 with the teeth of the wheel 25, and
is automatically rewound when pressure is applied to the button 22 so as to raise
the pawl or pawls out of engagement with the teeth. The outer end of the
trailing line 27 is provided with a metallic knob or ball 26 serving as a means
of grasping the line to facilitate its being drawn out to the required extent, and
also as a terminal for the passage of the electric current when the lines 16 and 27
are immersed in the water.
The remaining portion and fittings of the fishing rod may be of the usual con-
struction. It is to be noted that if the reel 15 and its supporting bracket be made
of conductive material, it is advisable that these parts be provided with suitable
insulation in order to obviate risk of the person handling the rod receiving
accidentally a shock of electricity in the event of his touching simultaneously
some portion of the conductors 16 and 27 from which the insulation may have
been stripped or worn away.
In using the improved fishing rod it is only necessary, when the baited hook
at the end of the fishing line 16 has been thrown into the water, to draw out
and immerse the end of the trailing line 27; and then upon a fish seizing the
hook, to press or slide the button 5, when an electric current is transmitted
from the secondary winding of the induction coil 4, through the line 16, the
hook, the body of the fish, the water and the trailing line 27 back to the induc-
tion coil. By this means the fish is instantaneously killed or so stunned as
to be easily landed, whereupon the circuit between the battery 3 and coil 4 may
be broken by means of the button 5, in readiness for the next capture.
It will be obvious that the battery and induction coil, and the spool for the
trailing line may be attached externally of the rod, but the arrangement above
described and illustrated in the drawings is preferred as being most convenient
for handling and transport.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
Electric fishing gear, adapted more particularly for catching salmon and other
large fish, consisting essentially in the combination with a fishing rod of an
appliance attached to the rod whereby to produce and transmit an electric induc-
tion current, said appliance comprising an electric battery (3), an induction

page_text: coil (4), a conductive fishing line (16) connected with one end of the secondary
winding of the coil, and an electric conductor (27) connected with the other end
of said secondary winding and adapted to make electrical connection with the
water so as, when a fish has taken the hook, to enable an induction current to
be sent through the fish-hook, the fish, and the water for the purpose of killing
or stunning the fish and so facilitating the landing of the catch, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1900.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.