A NEW OR IMPROVED DECOY FISH OR ARTIFICIAL BAIT WITH MECHANICAL STRIKING APPARATUS FOR ANGLING
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1881. A
communication from abroad by Carl Schondelmaier, of Hornberg Bad
Schwarzwald, in the Empire of Germany.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, Proprietor of the Firm of J. Brandt &
G. W. v. Nawrocki, Patent Solicitor and Civil Engineer, of 124, Leipzigerstrasse,
Berlin, Germany. "A NEW OR IMPROVED DECOY FISH OR ARTIFICIAL BAIT
WITH MECHANICAL STRIKING APPARATUS FOR ANGLING." A communication
from Carl Schondelmaier, of Hornberg Bad Schwarzwald, in the Empire of
Germany.
This Invention consists of a decoy fish or artificial bait with mechanical striking
apparatus, and is intended especially for angling.
This apparatus consists of a case of sheet metal or other material to which is
imparted a suitable fish form. This case receives a mechanism which causes a
number of fish hooks to spring out of the body of the decoy fish as soon as the fish
to be caught bites at it.
The construction of this apparatus is as follows:-
The case for the reception of the mechanical striking apparatus may be formed
of two shell shaped pieces of sheet metal, which are joined together into a case of
elliptic or other suitable cross section. One of these shaped pieces of sheet metal is
provided with screw shaped wings near the end corresponding to the head of the
fish. The other sheet metal piece has at its corresponding end a projection, which
takes into a staple on the other sheet metal piece. Both shell shaped parts are
then connected together at their hinder ends by being pressed lightly into one
another. The connection of the two shell like parts may be effected in various
ways, as the production of the case as such does not form the subject of the present
Invention.
The mechanical striking apparatus is fixed on a base plate in the inside of the
decoy fish, which base plate is held at its hinder end by a staple placed on one of
the shell shaped pieces, its opposite end being pressed on and held thereto by a
suitable latch piece. The base plate carries two guide bearings in which a bolt or
rod is moveable lengthwise. This bolt or rod is provided with two cones, which
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page_text: are fastened thereto by pins or other convenient means. A spring which surrounds
this bolt or rod, and bears at one end against a fixing attached to the base plate
and at the other end 'against one of the cones, tends to push the bolt or rod
with the cones in the direction of the head of the decoy fish. This bolt or rod is
however prevented from moving until required to do so by means of a retaining
catch which bears against the end of the said bolt or rod. This retaining catch
can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the bolt
or rod by means of bars or levers which project beyond the case.
The guide
bearings of the bolt or rod serve also for fixing the fish hooks, for which purpose
their outer surfaces are made conical, and are provided with groves in which the
stems of the fish-hooks are placed. These latter are then held in place by means
of a clip ring pushed over them.' The fish hooks are arranged radially and issue
from the case of the apparatus through slits formed therein. They are bent in
such manner as to be driven apart by the cones on the bolt or rod, when the latter
is pushed forward by the spring after the retaining catch is withdrawn.
The manipulation of this decoy fish is as follows:-In a hole at the end of
the base plate nearest to the head of the decoy fish is fastened a silver string,
which is also passed through two holes in the same end of one of the sheet
metal pieces, and is then connected with a cord by means of which the decoy fish
is drawn through the water. The decoy fish suitably nickeled or otherwise made
bright is caused to oscillate or rotate by the two wings, whereby a bright glimmer
is produced in the water.
Allured by this glimmer the fish of prey pursues the decoy fish, and seizing it
the pressure of the bite displaces the before mentioned bars or levers projecting
beyond the case, thereby releasing the retaining catch from the bolt or rod which
immediately springs forward, so that the cones thereon drive out the fish hooks
beyond the case into the jaws of the fish of prey, and hold him fast in such a way
that he cannot possibly free himself.
According to the kind of fish of prey it is desired to catch, the apparatus may
be heavier or lighter, and provided with a greater or lesser number of fish hooks.
The mechanical striking apparatus can also be placed in a fish roe or other bait,
if one of the above mentioned screwlike hinged wings with a prolongation
prepared for that purpose is placed in the small staple on the back of the base
plate.