Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887
Complete Left, 4th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th Apr., 1888
A communication from abroad by FRANÇOIS LUGRIN and EDOUARD DU KOVERAY,
both of the City of Geneva, Switzerland.
I, EDOUARD SCHNELL, of Inns of Court Hotel, High Holborn, London, W.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The said invention relates to a process or method of pisciculture and apparatus to
carry the same into effect, and it is designed to effect the culture and breeding of
fish on a more economical, effective, and practical scale, than has been hitherto
effected.
It consists in a new process or practical method, permitting the reuniting within a
limited space, and, by means of special apparatus, all the natural conditions indis-
pensable for the reproduction at will, of living nourishment proper for feeding all
sorts of fish, and that moreover in the most economical manner.
The principal difficulties of pisciculture on a large scale, such as that to which our
process lends itself are; first, to furnish the fish with suitable nourishment, secondly,
maintaining the healthy state of water, whilst reproducing therein the nourishment
of the fish. Our process or method deals with these two essential points.
We have remarked in studying the conditions of existence of fish, and by examina-
tion of the contents of their stomachs, that the food of which they appear to be
fondest is composed in a great measure of small crustaceans (especially for trout those
known as daphnia pulex) and we have devoted ourselves to learning the particular
conditions of their existence. We have, after numerous and persevering experiments
arrived at such a knowledge of the same as to place the daphnias and other animalculae
under the conditions which are necessary for them, and to obtain the multiplication
of this living food which is so favourable to the fry and fishes. The means are
furnished to us by the fish themselves inasmuch as the daphnia or other animalculae
reproduce and develope themselves to an enormous extent among the excrements of
the fishes themselves. It suffices then, in order to obtain a sufficient quantity of
food, to allow a certain number of fish to remain in a tank and to deposit their
excrement.

page_text: It is necessary to always employ a special method to favour the development of the
animalculae and facilitate their reproduction.
This base admitted, the principle of the process or special method is a periodical
movement either of the fishes or of the water. We will treat first of the first part of
this method as being the most practical.
Wo employ for the periodical movement of the fish, tanks combined in pairs
allowing of the fishes being transferred from one tank to another according to the
nutritive state of the water.
We place firstly a certain number of fish in that tank which contains the nourish-
ment necessary for their existence. Whilst assimilating this food, the fish deposit
their excrement in the tank. This excrement descends to the bottom of the tank,
where it decomposes, and it is precisely this decomposition which favours the develop
ment of the animalculae which constitute the nourishment of the fish. The tank
contains besides a certain quantity of nais (Lin) certain larvea of insects, water slugs
or snails and crustaceans such as prawns, which also feed upon the excrement of the
fish and which clean the tank of all aquatic vegetation attempting to develope itself
in the water and which would injure the generation and existence of the animalculae.
It is necessary in order not to injure the reproduction of these animalculao to observe
a certain proportion in the number of water slugs and crustaceans to be left in the
tank, the proportion varying according to the nature of the water and the size of the
tanks. The prawns and water slugs become in their turn, with the animalculae such
as daphnia, food for the fish.
A current of pure water ought to be continually flowing into the tank in order to
keep the water sweet and prevent its decomposition.
When the water of this first tank is sufficiently charged with excrement, the fish
are caused to pass into the second tank by means of suitable sluice gates, in order
that the production of the animalculae in the first tank may proceed with activity.
After about a month, from the time of this transfer; the first tanks is abundantly
provided with living food and is ready to receive again the fish transferred to the
second tank. The fish then return to it, and the generation of this living food
proceeds in the second tank which they had just left charged with excrement.
About a month afterwards the change is repeated and the fish is thus moved from
month to month to a fresh supply of food, and prospers in a most remarkable
manner.
It is evident that in the first instance it is necessary to furnish in the tanks a
sufficient quantity of the animalculae to support the life of the fish, but that after-
wards by reason of the above described process all the necessary nourishment
reproduces itself. The process can be equally carried out by an alternative change
of the water in the tanks by means of the sluice gates according to its nutritive state.
The water charged with excrement could be diverted into another tank, and the
reproduction of the animalculae and the crustaceans would proceed perfectly. This
water when charged with food and clear of all hurtful germs would be caused to
return to the tank containing the fish. It will be necessary always to have a constant
supply of pure water running into the generating tank.
It is to be remarked that the excrement of fish is not the only one which possess
the property of nourishing the animalculae necessary for their food but that many
other excrements equally possess this property.
The crustaceans or prawns and water slugs serving to destroy all germ or aquatic
vegetation hurtful to the reproduction and life of the animalculae, are moreover fed
by vegetables, aquatic plants, dead leaves etc.
Our above described process and combined pairs of tanks and sluices is equally
applicable to salt water fish and fresh water fish.
Dated this 14th in- of 1007
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Method of Pisciculture and Apparatus therefor.
1, EDOUARD SCHNELL, of Jaspar House, Farquhar Road, Upper Norwood, in the
County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the
following statement (reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon), that is to say :-
This invention relates to processes or methods of producing and supplying food
for fish, and to apparatus for carrying the same into effect, and it is designed to
promote the feeding and production of fish in a more economical, effective, and
practical manner than has hitherto been possible.
The invention consists of new processes or methods allowing the production and
obtainment, within a limited space, of all the necessary natural conditions required
for feeding and producing, to any extent, insect food, suitable for all sorts of fish, in
the cheapest way.
The principal difficulties of rearing fish on a large scale (such as that to which this
process is adapted) are: first, to supply the fish with suitable nourishment; secondly
to maintain the water in a wholesome state whilst the nourishment for the fish is
held in it. These processes or methods deal with both these essential points.
The inventors have remarked in studying the conditions of existence of fish, and
by examining the contents of their stomachs, that the food which they appear to
require most is largely composed of small crustacea, (especially for trout, and other
similar fish) those known as daphnia pulex and other species, and they have devoted
themselves to studying the particular conditions of the existence of the crustacea.
After numerous and persevering experiments they have arrived at such knowledge
as to enable them to multiply the daphnia and other animalcula under the conditions
which are necessary for them, and to so obtain the multiplication of this living food
which is so natural and favourable to the fry and to the fish.
The means are furnished by the fish themselves, in as much as the inventors have
discovered that daphnia, or other animalcula, reproduce and develop themselves to an
enormous extent among the excrement of fish. It is only necessary in order to
obtain a sufficient quantity of food, to allow a certain number of fish to remain for
a time in a suitable pond, tank, or pool to deposit their excrement therein, but a
special method facilitating the development of the animalcula, and their reproduction,
must always be used.
This being a principal or essential part of the invention, the process or special
method is to periodically remove either the fish, or the water contained in two
corresponding ponds or tanks, one of which contains the fish, whilst the food is
produced in the other one, and vice-versa. I will first explain the removal of the fish,
being the most convenient practical part of this process.
For the periodical removal of the fish, ponds or tanks are employed, constructed in
pairs, allowing the fish to be transferred from one pond or tank to another, according
to the nutritive state of the water, by means of suitable sluices and gates, the pond
or tank being made of such form and provided with such external means of access
as to easily enable the fish to be removed from pond to pond.

page_text: -
A certain number of fish, varying according to the size of the fish, or the pond,
are first placed in a pond which contains the food necessary for their existence.
Whilst assimilating this food the fish deposit their excrement in the pond. This
excrement falls to the bottom of the pond or tank, where it decomposes and it is this
decomposition which induces the development of the animalcula which constitute the
food of fish. The pond or tank contains, besides a certain quantity of naïs (Lin),
certain larvæ of insects, water slugs or snails and crustacea, such as prawns etc.,
which also feed upon the excrement of fish, and which clean the pond or tank from
aquatic vegetation, and arrest its growth as such vegetation would injure the
generation and existence of animalcula. In order not to injure the reproduction of
these animalcula, a certain proportion in the number of water slugs and crustacea
left in the pond or tank must be kept up, this proportion varies according to
the quality of the water and the size of the ponds or tanks. The prawns and
water slugs become in their turn with the animalcnla, such as daphnia, etc. food
for fish.
The ponds or tanks in which the reproduction of insect food takes place should be
covered over, as the reproduction is accelerated by darkness.
A stream of pure water should be kept continually flowing through the pond or
tank, in order to keep the water sweet and prevent it becoming decomposed.
When the water of this first pond or tank is sufficiently charged with excrement,
the fish are caused to pass into the second pond or tank, in order that the production
of the animalcula in the first pond or tank may proceed with activity. After about
a month, or less, from the time of this transfer the first pond or tank is abundantly
provided with living food, and is ready to again have the fish retransferred to it. The
fish then return to it, and the generation of the living food commences and proceeds
in the second pond or tank which has just been left charged with excrement. About
a month afterwards the transfer is repeated, and the fish are then removed from time
to time to a fresh supply of food, and grow in a most remarkable manner.
It is evident that in the first instance the ponds or tanks must be furnished with a
sufficient quantity of the animalcula to support the life of the fish, but that after-
wards, by reason of the process described above, all the necessary nourishment
reproduces itself. I will now explain how the process can be equally carried out by
an alternate change of the water in the ponds or tanks, according to its nutritivo
state or condition. The water charged with excrement can be diverted into another
pond or tank, and the reproduction of the animalcula and the crustacea, would then
proceed perfectly. This water, when charged with food, and clear of all hurtful
germs would be caused to return to the pond or tank containing the fish. It will
be necessary always to have a constant and sufficient supply of pure water running
into and through all the ponds or tanks used.
It must be here remarked that the excrement of fish is not the only one which
possesses the property of nourishing the animalcula necessary for their food, but
that many other kinds of excrement equally possess this property..
The crustacea or prawns, and water slugs serve to destroy all germs or aquatic
vegetation injurious to the reproduction and life of the animalcula.
The above described process is equally applicable to, salt water fish and fresh water
fish.
For the practical carrying out of the process it is important to have a system of
combined pairs of ponds or tanks, but the shape thereof is immaterial.
In order that the invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in considering
which it must be understood that the form of all details of construction may be
varied as circumstances may suggest.
Figure 1 represents a pair of pools, ponds, or tanks combined with their accessories.
This is the simplest means of carrying the process into effect, and require the least
space and work.
Figure 2 represents a plan of a series of pools, ponds or tanks combined in pairs,
with accessories suitable for working on a large scale,

page_text: In Fig. 1, A and B are the two pools, ponds, or tanks employed alternately for
the rearing of the fish and the generation of the animalcula. These ponds or tanks
communicate with each other by a sluice or passage a, by which the fish can be
conducted from one pond or tank to the other alternately, as the process requires.
(is an additional pond or tank wherein the animalcula are first placed in order to
commence the process, and which acts as a relay. The canals D are in communica-
tion with flowing water F, and are constantly keeping up a supply of pure water to
the ponds or tanks.
In Fig. 2, is a starting pond or tank, in which the water charged with excrement
is placed, and into which the first animalcula are put, constituting a commencing
pool, pond, or tank for the process, and a reserve of nourishment. E, E, are a series
of pools, ponds or tanks communicating with C, by means of suitable piping or
canals, so as to receive, in case of need, or by way of supplement, a supply
of food.
The pools, ponds, or tanks, are fed with pure water by a system of canalisation D,
in communication with any suitable water supply F, such as a running stream. Alí
these pools ponds or tanks communicate with each other, as well as with a central
canal G, by means of valves or sluices e. Thus the fish can be passed from one half
series to the other, and the operation is effected in each half series, as in the case of
a single pool, pond, or tank, shewn at figure 1. As soon as the water in one half
series is sufficiently charged with excrement the fish are transferred into the neigh-
bouring half series, and during their abode in this balf series, the generation of the
animalcula is effected in the other, and so on. The advantage of dividing up into
small pools, ponds, or tanks, is the fact that the fish can be more easily sorted
out according to their size, thus protecting the smaller from the voracity of the
larger.
Pure water is constantly supplied by means of the system of canals, and the water
in the pool, pond, or tank is maintained at the desired level by means of suitablo
cocks.
Overflow canals are provided to carry off overflow or waste water.
Without modifying in principle the method already described for obtaining the
development of the animalcula which form the nourishment of the fish, the process
may be modified so as to arrive at the same result in less time.
In place of leaving the animalcula to reproduce and develop themselves, for a
month, as before specified, the same result can be arrived at in from twelve to fiftoon
days by means of the following process. The excrement is collected from the bottoms
of the pools, ponds, or tanks, and is boiled for about a quarter of an hour. The
material thus treated is then thrown into the pool, pond, or tank, wherein the living
nourishment is to be produced.
Wherever the nature of the soil permits the bottom of the tanks or ponds should
be formed by preference of earth, and not of beton.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
1st. The hereinbefore described commercial and practical method or process for
feeding and breeding fish, whereby water charged with the excrement of fish, or
other suitable excrementitious matter, is utilised for the production, reproduction,
and feeding of animalcula which is to serve as food for the fry, and the fish in its
turn, substantially as specified.
2nd. The employment of water snails, crustacea, naïs, and insect larvae for the
purpose of ridding the water from germs and aquatic vegetation, hurtful to the
reproduction and development of the animalcula which constitute the food of the fish.
3rd. The collection of the excrement from the bottom of the pools, ponds, or
tanks, and by the application of heat to it quickening the process of reproduction of
insect food for fish.

page_text: 4th. The combination of two or more pools, ponds, or tanks permitting of the
alternate transfer of the fish from one to the other, according to the different phases
of the process, substantially as shewn an for the purposes described.
5th. The combination of a system of pools, ponds or tanks divided into double
series of small pools, ponds, or tanks (E) in communication with one another, and
provided with sluices or gates (e) for the passage of the fish, to allow of their being
sorted according to their size, and also to allow the fish being transferred from one
half series to the other, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
6th. The combination with either the pair of pools ponds or tanks A and B, or
the series E, of one or more reserve pools, ponds, or tanks (, for starting the process
and providing a relay of food, when required, substantially as shewn and described.
7th. The combination with the herein-described system, of overflow canals for
carrying off the overflow or waste water.
8th. The discovery and practical development of the principle of the production
of animal life in the materials and under circumstances in which it would otherwise
not have existed substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of February 1888.
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.