IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING NETS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Boyce, Samuel George Boyce, and Samuel Callaway,
all of Sandown, Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING NETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Boyce, Samuel George
Boyce, and Samuel Callaway at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 2nd May 1881.
HENRY BOYCE, SAMUEL GEORGE BOYCE, and SAMUEL CALLAWAY, all of
Sandown, Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING NETS."
This Invention consists in the construction of a net with three sides, and having
a bottom with the fourth side left open.
The improved net is constructed as follows:-
A shallow piece of netting is fastened by the bottom line round three sides of an
oblong piece of net, leaving the fourth side (a long side) open, the bottom line is
slightly weighted to keep it down, while the top line is buoyed with corks or floats;
weights and buoys are attached to what would represent the lower and upper
inside angles of the net to keep the same in position.
Ropes or other attachments for guiding the net and for raising the open end.
thereof when required, as well as a seine, can be employed as desired.
When in use the net is arranged in the water in a more or less curved position,
and when the fish pass into it the open edge is raised by means of lines, thus
holding the fish as in an open box. This improved net has a great advantage over
a drift net, which is only worked at night, while this net is suitable for use in the
day time and for shoal fishing in deep water, or for collecting fish out of a seine.
when shot in a circle in shallow water. It has also a great advantage over a
seine, which can only be used in clear ground and in shallow water, but the two
can be advantageously worked together in the latter case.
When used for collecting fish out of a seine when shot in a circle in shallow
water and anchored, the open side of the improved net should be attached to the
Price I

page_text: top line of the seine, and these lines should be weighted in the centre where
attached so as to sink them to the desired depth, the fish are then driven out of the
seine into the improved net, and the sunk lines are hauled up, thus enclosing the
fish.
By this means a seine may be used in comparatively rocky ground without risk
of losing the fish or having the seine torn by the rocks, either or both of which
events must follow if the seine had to be dragged ashore as in ordinary work..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Boyce, Samuel George Boyce, and Samuel Callaway in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November 1881.
HENRY BOYCE, SAMUEL GEORGE BOYCE, and SAMUEL CALLAWAY, all of
Sandown, Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING NETS."
Our said Invention consists in the construction of a net with three sides and a
bottom, the fourth side being left open.
The said net is constructed as follows:-
A shallow piece of netting is fastened by its bottom line round three sides of an
oblong piece of netting, leaving the fourth side (a long side) open. The said
bottom line of the shallow piece of netting is slightly weighted to keep it down,
whilst the top line thereof is buoyed with corks or floats; by these means the
oblong piece of netting constituting the bottom of our improved net will be sunk
in the water in a more or less horizontal position, whilst the shallow piece of
netting forming the three sides of the said improved net will be kept more or less)
upright, the floats maintaining the top line thereof on the surface of the water.
Weights and buoys are attached to what would represent the lower and upper
inside angles of the net to keep the same in position. It will be readily understood
that instead of forming our improved net from two pieces of netting, as above
described, it can be made in one piece, the desired form being obtained by arranging
the floats and weights in the same manner as when the net is made from two
pieces.
Ropes or other attachments for guiding the net and for raising the open end
thereof, when required, and also a seine, can be employed as desired.
When in use the net is arranged in the water in a more or less curved position,
and when fish pass into it the open end is raised by means of the ropes above
. referred to, thus holding the fish as in an open box. Our improved net has a great
advantage over a drift-net, which is only worked at night, as it is suitable for use in
the day time and for shoal fishing in deep water, or for collecting fish out of a
seine when shot in a circle in shallow water. It has also a great advantage over a
seine, which can only be used in clear ground and in shallow water, but the two
can be advantageously worked together in the latter case.

page_text: When used for collecting fish out of a seine shot in a circle in shallow water and
anchored, the open side of the improved net should be attached to the top line of
the seine, and this line should be weighted in the centre where attached so as to
sink them to the desired depth, the fish are driven out of the seine into our
improved net, and the sunk line is then hauled up, thus enclosing the fish.
By this means a seine may be used in comparatively rocky ground without risk
of losing the fish or having the seine torn by the rocks, either or both of
which events must follow if the seine had to be dragged ashore as in ordinary
work.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion
that what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting
the Invention secured to us by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is,―
The construction of our improved net having three sides and a bottom,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Boyce, Samuel George Boyce, and
Samuel Callaway, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty
eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
night an
HENRY BOYCE.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL GEORGE BOYCE. (L.S.)
SAMUEL
CALLAWAY.
(L.S.)
HENRY BOYCE.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL GEORGE BOYCE. (L.S.)
SAMUEL CALLAWAY.
(L.S.)