Improvements in Trawl Nets.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
Improvements in Trawl Nets.
We, FREDERICK MAHY BIOHARD, JAMES HENRY BICHARD, and WILLIAM
HENRY BIOHARD, of No. 7 Banks, Guernsey, Channel Islands, Fishermen, 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:-
Our invention consists of improvements in trawl nets, by the use of which a
greatly increased number of fish can be caught than by the trawl nets at present
in general use. For this purpose, we provide a non-return flap, forming a pocket
in the mouth of the uet, and attached preferably to the bottom part thereof, as
hereafter described.
In every form of trawl net, the lower or under portion of the mouth extends
backwardly in a curve, formed by the ground rope trailing along the bottom or bod
of the sea, and it always happens that a large number of fish escape through the
said mouth.
According to our present invention, we make a flap of meshed netting or the
like in the usual manner, provided with two peaks, and shaped or curved so as to
correspond with the lower portion of the mouth, being fitted over the saine to
extend inwardly up to about two feet beyond the centre of the sweep. Said flap is
securely fastened to the mouth along its two sides and along the curved ground
rope, the inner edge being left free, and provided with a row of corks or like
floats. It will thus be seen that a sort of pocket or non-return device is provided
in the mouth of the trawl, forming a trap, which will not interfere appreciably
with the entrance of the fish, but will prevent or hinder its escape. The corks or
floats before mentioned serve to keep the flap raised, and in order to prevent their
becoming entangled in the netting, they are preferably enclosed within a long
cotton or like bag, forming a buoyant rope; and at intervals of, say, three or four
feet along said rope, we attach sinall cords or the like, fastened also to the bottom
part of the net, thus preventing the mouth of same from becoming altogether
closed.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the manner of carrying out our
invention,
Figure 1. being a view of our improvement in a trawl net, and
Figure 2. a plan of the essential flap by the addition of which to an ordinary net,
our said improvement is effected.
ABC) is the flap, fastened to the net along its sides A D, BC, and to the
ground rope along its curved edge C D. E is the buoyant rope formed of a cotton
or like bag containing corks or Hoats, and F Fure the small cords beforementioned,
technically known as "stoppers," serving to keep said rope raised about five or six
inches or thereabouts ahove the bottom part of the net.
Any well known form of irons, such as shown by G G, may be employed,
connected by the usual beam H, and we may use any convenient arrangement of
spans and other tackle. It may be found desirable to still retain the existing
form of pockets as indicated by the dotted lines J J in Figure 2.
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 :-
1. In trawl nets the employment of a non-return flap situated in the mouth of

page_text: the same, secured along the whole of its edge excepting the innermost edge, the
latter being left free to rise by means of a row of floats regulated as to height by
small cords or equivalents substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Forming a pocket in the mouth of a trawl net by means of a flap of meshed
netting or the like shaped so as to correspond with the lower portion of the mouth
and extending inwardly only for a short distance for the purpose herein before set
forth and generally as described and illustrated.
3. The improvements in trawl nets substantially as hereinbefore described and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 15th day of August 1896.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.