Improvements in Trawl Boards for Trawl Fishing.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trawl Boards for Trawl Fishing.
I, GEORGE DRIVER IRVIN, of The Elms, North Shields, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in trawl boards often known as "otter-
boards" used in trawl fishing, the more particular objects of this invention being
to construct the board in such a manner that it is not liable to turn over upon its
side when in use, and to so construct the board as to obtain a maximum of
strength with a minimum of weight, furthermore to fix the head line, ground
rope, and towing chains in such positions as to keep the board at the correct
angle when towing, so as to reduce resistance to a minimum, the trawl is there-
fore lighter to low, which effects a great saving in coal consumption and wear of
machinery, where used in connection with steam trawlers, while the lower towing
chain is arranged so as to be adjustable and can therefore be made suitable for
use in different depths of water.
In carrying this invention into practical effect, the hoard is constructed of a
sufficient number of planks secured side by side to frames, the top frame con-
sisting of a wooden beam of sufficient size and strength and in the form of a
triangle in plan, the boards being preferably secured to the base of this triangular
frame by bolts and nuts and spikes, while the lower frame consists of a vertical
iron plate to which the boards are bolted and a projecting flange or horizontal
plate of a similar shape in plan to that of the upper frame. The bottom of the
board is furnished with a suitable wearing shoe of cast iron, steel, or other suit-
able material, and as the whole of the heavier material consisting of the iron or
other metal is arranged at or near the bottom of the board, this serves to retain
the board in a vertical position when being drawn through the water, this object
being further attained by the aforesaid frames which form horizontal shelves,
& help to support the board in the water.
The towing chains are designed to be secured to the apeces of the aforesaid
triangular frames, the upper chain being secured to an eye or ring arranged at
the required point of the upper wooden frame, while the bottom chain is arranged
to be secured to a suitable hole or perforation formed in the required part of the
horizontal or projecting plate of the lower or metal frame and in such a way as
to be capable of adjustment in any suitable manner as required.
The apeces of the aforesaid triangular fraanes to which the towing chains are
secured are preferably arranged at a distance of ahout one third of the length
of the board from the forward end according to the required spread of net, while
the head line is fastened exactly mid-way between the ends of the boards at the
required height and may be raised above the top of the board if necessary by
means of a batten firmly secured to the board, the ground line being fastened to
the bottom frame slightly to the stern of the centre line of the board, according
to the length of the said board and spread of net.
Owing to the net being fixed almost to the centre of the board, the boards can
swivel or turn easily and are thus greatly adapted for towing round in circles.
Dated this 10th day of November 1899.

page_text: Improvements in Trawl Boards for Trawl Fishing.
I, GEORGE DRIVER IRVIN, of The Elms, North Shields, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
" otter-
This invention relates to improvements in trawl boards often known as
boards" used in trawl fishing, the more particular objects of this invention being
to construct the board in such a manner that it is not liable to turn over upon its
side when in use, and to so construct the board as to obtain a maximum of
strength with a minimum of weight, furthermore to fix the head line, ground
rope, and towing chains in such positions as to keep the board at the correct
angle when towing, so as to reduce resistance to a minimum, the trawl is there-
fore lighter to tow, which effects a great saving in coal consumption and wear of
machinery, where used in connection with steam trawlers, while the lower towing
chain is arranged so as to be adjustable and can therefore be made suitable for
use in different depths of water.
In order that this invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
"
. _
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trawl board or otter-board" constructed accord-
ing to this invention.
Fig. 2 being a vertical cross section of same.
Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the upper frame hereinafter referred to, and the
top edge of the board in plan.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the board showing the lower frame herein-
after referred to, in plan.
Fig. 5 is a detailed view drawn to an enlarged scale as compared with the other
views, and,
Fig. 6 illustrates a slightly modified form of board.
According to this invention, and as shown in the drawings, the board is con-
structed of a sufficient number of planks a secured side by side to an upper and
lower frame, the upper frame b consisting of a wooden beam of sufficient size and
strength in the approximate form of a triangle in plan (Fig. 3) and the boards a
are secured to the base of the triangular frame b as shown preferably_by_holts
and nuts and spikes, or in any other convenient and suitable manner. The lower
frame consists of a vertical metal plate c to which the boards a are bolted or other-
wise suitably secured and a projecting flange or horizontal plate c¹ in plan
closely resembling the frame b.
The bottom of the board is furnished with a wearing shoe d preferably of cast
iron but which may be of steel of other suitable material, and this shoe is furnished
with a recess or channel along its top or upper edge into which the boards a enter
and are firmly secured (Figs. 2 & 5).
By the improved construction of board the whole of the heavier material con-
sisting of the wearing shoe d and lower frame cel is arranged at or near the
bottom of the board which serves to retain it in a vertical position when drawn
through the water, this object being further attained by the aforesaid frames
which form horizontal shelves and help to support the board in a vertical position.
The towing chains and t¹ are designed to he secured to the apeces of the afore-
said triangular frames, the upper chain t being secured to an eye or ring arranged
at the required point in the upper frame b, while the lower chain is secured to
a suitable hole or perforation h formed in the required part of the flange or
horizontal plate of the lower frame, and in such a way as to be capable of adjust-
ment in any suitable manner as required.

page_text: The apeces of the aforesaid triangular frames, to which the towing chains are
secured, are preferably arranged at a distance of about one third of the length
of the board from the forward end, according to the required spread of net, while
the head line of the net is fastened approximately midway between the ends of
the board at a point in the centre line, at the required height, and may be
raised above the top of the board if necessary by means of a batten secured to
the board and projecting above it, while the ground line is fastened to the bottom
frame slightly to the stern of the centre line of the board, according to the
length of the said board and spread of net.
Owing to the net being fixed almost to the centre of the boards the angle of the
board is independent of the spread of either head line or ground rope, & they can
swivel or turn easily and are thus greatly adapted for towing round in circles.
if required the bottom frame may be so bent that the long side of the angle
bar el comes in a straight line with the towing chain with the object of obviating
the strain due to leverage.
According to a modified form of the invention and for low boards as shown
in Fig. 6, one triangular frame only will be found most suitable. According to
this form of the invention, the triangular frame g which may be made of wood
or metal is arranged at or near the centre of the board. The planks of which the
board is constructed are arranged in a similar manner to that already described
in connection with the first form of the invention, and are firmly attached to the
frame g, and also to the shoe d and top batten e, while for additional strength
diagonal stays s may be employed.
In this form of the invention the ground line is secured to a projection / on
the shoe d, while the head line f is attached to the top batten e as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1/. The new or improved trawl board or
66 otter-board " for trawl fishing, con-
sisting of a sufficient number of planks a arranged side by side and rigidly secured
to an upper triangular or other wooden frame such as b and to a lower triangular
or other frame consisting of a vertical plate such as chaving a flange or horizontal
top plate such as c' and furnished with a wearing shoe such as d, the board being
designed to be towed by towing chains affixed to the apeces of the said frames and
the head line of the net at the centre of the board, and the ground line at the
stern of the centre line of the board, substantially as herein described and shown
and for the purposes specified.
2/. In trawl boards or "1
otter-boards" the employment of triangular or other
frames such as b, c c³, substantially as set forth.
3/. In trawl boards or otter-boards" furnished with triangular frames such as
above claimed, the formation or arrangement of the apeces of the said frames at a
distance of about one third of the length of the board from the forward end, and
the towing of the board from the apeces of these triangular frames, substantially
as set forth.
4/. The modified form and application of the invention to low boards wherein
one triangular frame only is employed, substantially as described and shown
with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th
WOOL OF JanuarY HIE
CASSELL & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.
Agents for the Applicant.
CHIRI
LIBNOR TO ARD TO BU
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