Improvements in the Circulation of the Water in the Fish Wells or Fish Tanks of Fishing Vessels, and in the Apparatus employed therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Circulation of the Water in the Fish Wells or
Fish Tanks of Fishing Vessels, and in the Apparatus employed
therefor.
We, COLIN HOUSTON, Engineer, of the firm of Muir & Houstou, Engineers
and Boiler Makers, and WILLIAM ARBUCKLE MAOKIE, Engineer, both of
60 Portman Street, Kinning Park, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, 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 improvements in the cireulation of the water in the fish
wells or fish tanks of fishing vessels and has for its object to provide a fish well
with means whereby the water is properly circulated and aerated for the purpose
of carrying the fish alive to a market whether the vessel is at sea or in a river or
harbour.
In the carrying out of my said invention I employ what is known as the dry
well system whereby the well can be used as a coal hold fof taking the vessel to
the fishing ground. I provide the dry well with one or more lengths of perforated
supply pipes which are connected to a circulating pump or pumps which may be
driven by the main engine, donkey engine or otherwise as desired the said
perforated pipes are laid along the bottom of the well so as to cause a continual
supply and circulation of the water in an upward direction, and so thoroughly
aerate the water as well as cause all the scum to be sent to the top from whence it
escapes by means of four or more bell mouthed overflow pipes, having their lower
ends passing through the vessel's bottom, and they are preferably mounted as to
incline aft, and so allow the force from the forward movement of the vessel to suck
them clean.
The whole arrangement is such that on the fish being caught they are put into
the well which has been filled with water, and the circulation started and kept up
as long as they are in clean or pure water; reaching foul water the circulation is
stopped, and so leaves the well full of clean water which enables the fish to be
brought to the harbour whether it be up a river or otherwise. When the harbour
has been reached the water is withdrawn from the tank or well by means of the
perforated supply pipes which are provided outside the well with a suitable two
way cock.
After the water has been withdrawn from the well the fish can then be easily
and quickly taken out.
The said wells may be used on the outward journey as coal bunkers by providing
suitable covers and plugs for the various pipes; thus permitting the vessels taking
longer voyages.
Dated this 8th day of October 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Circulation of the Water in the Fish Wells or
Fish Tanks of Fishing Vessels, and in the Apparatus employed
therefor.
We, COLIN HOUSTON, Engineer, of the firm of Muir and Houston, Engineers
and Boiler Makers, and WILLIAM ARBUCKLE MACKIE, Engineer, both of
60 Portman Street, Kinning Park, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, 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 which relates to improvements in the circulation of the water in
the fish wells or fish tanks of fishing vessels and in the apparatus employed therefor,
has for its object to provide a fish well or tank with means whereby the water is
properly circulated and aerated for the purpose of enabling fish to be carried alive
from where they have been captured to a harbour or market whether the same be
on the coast or up a river.
In carrying out our said invention we use what is known as a dry well fishing
vessel which may be a steam or sailing vessel and we employ a series of one or
more lengths of perforated supply pipes preferably arranged near the bottom of
the dry well and connected at their one end to a circulating or other pump or
pumps, which may be driven by the main engine, donkey engine or otherwise as
desired, there being a suitable two way cock provided on said pipes outside the
dry well. Owing to the said pipes being arranged at the bottom of the well they
cause a continual supply and circulation of water in an upward direction and so
thoroughly aerate the water as well as cause all the scum to be sent to the top
from whence along with the used water it escapes back to the sea by means of
preferably four or more bell mouthed or other shaped overflow pipes which have
their lower ends passing through the vessel's bottom, and they are preferably
mounted so as to incline aft and so allow the force from the forward movement of
the vessel to suck them clear.
Also in accordance with our invention we employ suitable covers and plugs for
the perforated supply pipes and overflow pipes by the use of which the dry well
may be used as a coal bunker on the outward voyage and therefore permit of the
vessel taking longer voyages.
In order that our said invention may be properly understood and easily carried
into effect we will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a part of a fishing vessel showing the well or
tank and our arrangement of pipes.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of same and Figures 8 4 & 5 details.
Referring to the said drawings we arrange within and preferably near the bottom
of the well or tank A a series of one or more lengths of perforated supply pipes B.
preferably having their perforations 6 formed in 3 rows (as shown more particularly
in Figure 3) so as to cause a continual supply and circulation of the water in an
upward direction throughout the whole of the well or tank A; the said upward
direction of the supply not only causes the water to be thoroughly aerated but it
tends to carry all the scum and refuse to the top of the well or tank A. from whence
along with the used water it passes to the sea through the medium of preferably
four or more bell mouthed or other shaped overflow pipes C; the said pipes Care
mounted in such a manner so as to incline aft and their lower ends are caused to
pass through the bottom of the vessel and so cause the force from the forward
movement of the vessel to suck the said pipes C clear. The circulation of the
water throughout the perforated pipes B is obtained by suitably connecting the
end 6 to a circulating pump or pumps which may be placed in any convenient part
of the vessel, and driven by the main engine, donkey engine, or otherwise as desired.

page_text: The said connecting pipe is provided at any convenient part with a suitable two
way cock or valve so as to enable the well or tank A. to be emptied of water when
desired.
In order to enable the well or tank A to be used as a coal bunker on the outward
journey we provide wooden or other covers D Figure 4 for the pipes B which are
preferably made in sections for convenience and we also provide wooden plugs or
covers E Figure 5, for the top ends of the overflow pipes. The whole arrangement
is such that on a vessel going to the fishing ground the pipes B and C are covered
by their covers D and plugs E and the well A filled with coal. After the vessel
has arrived at its fishing ground the coal is removed to the ordinary bunkers which
are by this time empty, the well is then cleaned out very easily owing to its being
lined with a cement or concrete lining or flooring F and the circulation of the
water started and kept up until the vessel has obtained her cargo of fish and also
during her homeward journey, until the vessel comes into impure or different water
when the circulation is stopped and the well left full of pure or sea water, thus
enabling the boat to sail into harbour with her cargo alive. On reaching the
harbour the two way cock on the supply pipes is manipulated so as to empty the
well and so enable the fish to be easily unshipped at once.
Our said invention is also applicable to vessels having fish wells with two or
more hatches and to fish wells in which there is a divisional bulkhead provided,
the said bulkhead being preferably perforated so as to ensure of a more equal
circulation of water throughout the two compartments each of the compartments
being provided with one or more lengths of perforated supply pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In dry well fishing vessels the general arrangement and combination of the
various parts constituting our improved means of circulating and aerating the water
therein as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In combination with a dry well A, the employment of one or more
perforated supply pipes B and bell-mouthed or other shaped overflow pipes C, and
their connecting parts, as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of December 1801,
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.