IMPROVE- MENTS IN BOATS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION, AND CONVEYANCE OF OYSTERS OR OTHER SHELL-FISH
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOATS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION,
AND CONVEYANCE OF OYSTERS OR OTHER SHELL-FISH." A communication
from abroad by Victorin Accurse Louis De Blandinière, of the Chateau de
Bleys, Tarn, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS AND APPARATUS FOR
THE CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION, AND CONVEYANCE OF OYSTERS OR OTHER
SHELL-FISH." [A communication from abroad by Victorin Accurse Louis De
Blandinière, of the Chateâu De Bleys, Tarn, France.]
This Invention relates chiefly to an improved boat, pontoon, or floating vivarium
of great durability, the same being constructed of iron and in sections, in such a
manner as to be capable of being taken to pieces. The said boat or pontoon is
designed to be used for the collection of spat, the rearing of oysters and other
shell-fish, and their transport while alive along the sea coast, and also for short
distances in rivers, canals, and other water courses, thus protecting the said shell-
fish from the attacks of crabs, starfish, or the like.
The said Invention is also partly applicable to artificial oyster beds, vivariums,
and other reservoirs for oysters and other shell-fish.
The said improved boat may be of two kinds, that is to say :-
First. Travelling or navigating boats, and, secondly, boats designed to be
anchored in coves, bays, estuaries, or the like, and which I call pontoons.
The travelling or navigating boat or vessel is constructed with watertight
partitions, and is provided in the interior with breakwater divisions; perpendicular
[Price 8d71

page_text: The
supports of iron are connected to the partitions by connecting pieces.
breakwater divisions are perforated throughout with holes of from 25 to 30
millimetres in diameter. The sea water enters at the bow of the boat through
openings or passages, and at the stern through other openings or passages. Between
the former there is a space or chamber used as a cable hold and for stores and the
like;
between the said rear openings or passages the engine room is situated, and
behind the latter there is another chamber. The openings or passages fore and aft
may be closed by gates or sluices which are operated from the outside. The water
may be expelled from the boat by means of pumps which are worked by power
transmitted from the engine.
Air-chambers are situated around the boat; the aforesaid connecting pieces must
be secured to the water-tight partitions in lengths. Well-pumps are provided at
the rear of the boat, also a curved partition designed to lessen the resistance of the
water coming from the front and to direct it towards the exit passages. This
curved partition rises only half a metre above the water line.
The forward or bow sluices or gates open outward, so as to be kept closed by the
external pressure of the sea, and the after or stern sluices or gates open inwards,
The handles or rods
and are kept closed by the pressure of the water in the boat.
of all the sluices or gates are controlled from the deck either by means of toothed
The aforesaid perpendicular supports of angle
gearing or by other suitable means.
iron form frames for supporting trays or compartiments.
The boat made according to this Invention, and designed to remain always at
anchor, is provided with means for communicating with the sea in the saine manner
as above described, and the passages or openings are closed by internal sluices or
gates; air chambers are provided, but the greater number of the same situated
along side the pontoon or vessel are utilized for receiving boxes or cells which in the
spatting season may be filled with empty shells for collecting spat. The spaces at
the stern may also be used for the saine purpose. The whole of the deck-part of
the boat is covered with oak gratings or open work, allowing the passage of light
and of the sun's rays.
A longitudinal water-tight partition in the centre of the pontoon is provided on
both sides with a wall or covering of clay compressed by hand and held by thick
wire netting. The arrangement of the angle iron supports in this pontoon is
practically the same as in the navigating boat; but the clay wall or coating is
situated between the watertight partition and the uprights.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and use of the compartments or
trays designed to be employed in both the above named boats, also in artificial
oyster beds and vivaria.
All the parts thereof are connected by soft metal rivets capable of being easily
cut when any part requires to be replaced. Angular corner flanges are provided,
made of cast steel, and the sides are made of cast steel or hoop or sheet iron.
There are two central cross-pieces made of boop or sheet iron, and pins or lugs are
fixed in the lower one to support a partition of wire netting which is inserted in a
groove in the upper cross-piece; metallic netting is also fastened to the bottom and
sides of the compartments or trays by soldering or brazing at several points.
The height of the said compartments or trays is 4 or 5 centimetres. They ar
provided with fixed handles which serve for moving or lifting the compartments o
trays when necessary. A lid is necessary when the compartments or trays ar
used in oyster-ponds, vivaria, or the like. This lid covers the uppermost tray, and
is also furnished with fixed handles, and is made with flanges on which is fastene
metallic netting.
For placing the trays in and removing them from the grooves formed by th
uprights, I make use of an instrument consisting of a handle, at the lowe
extremity of which a socket is provided, in which there is a cross piece of abou
the same length as the side of the tray or compartment. The said socket support
balanced claws or hooks, which are furnished with a counter-weight; to the latte

page_text: a cord or line is secured, which passes through eyes and is tied to a stud or
projection.
To raise a tray or compartment and remove it from the boat the cord is pulled
and made fast to the stud; the cross piece is caused to slide along the uprights,
being guided by the same, and the counterweight is turned towards the inside of
the tray.
As soon as the cross-piece rests on the tray the cord must be released,
and through the action of the counter-weight the claws of the said instrument or
tool engage in the fixed handle of the tray, whereupon the handle may be lifted and
the tray can thus be removed.
At the bottom of the boat or pontoon I place a layer of clay or muddy sand ten
centimetres in depth, over which small fragments of lime stone are strewn ; above
this there is water to a depth of 5 centimetres, in which are arranged three or
four layers of oysters (the number of layers varying according to the size of the
oysters), care being taken to leave about one third of the depth free to allow the
water to circulate. I place above this water the first series of trays containing
oysters up to two thirds of the depth, these trays being supported by projections
on the uprights and supporting the other series of trays. The highest series of
trays has water above it to a depth of from 15 to 20 centimetres. It would be
advisable to leave in the travelling or navigating boat when at sea a depth of
30 centimetres of water.
The whole surface of the vivarium or tank portion, both in the navigating and
A chain
in the stationary boat, is covered with thick wire trellis or net work.
passing through eyes along the whole length of the vessel, and having one of its
ends which is of soft metal rivetted in a log or block, prevents the oysters from
being stolen by keeping all the openings blocked.
At sea the boat or vessel is provided with solid panels through which there are
air passages communicating with the tank or interior portion.
Situated between the inner and outer sluices or gates there is a small breakwater
partition which is perforated with holes of from 25 to 30 millimetres in diameter.
The curved partitions in proximity to the well-pumps are solid at the top, and
perforated with three or four rows of holes of from 25 to 30 millimetres in diameter
at the lower part commencing near the foot of the pumps.
The water tight partitions running longitudinally on the two sides of the boat
should be placed back or inside to an extent corresponding with the width of the
air chambers, so as to allow of the construction of clay walls about 15 centimetres
thick;
these walls are kept in position against the partitions by thick wire netting.
The uprights of angle iron are fixed at their upper ends in portions of the panels of
the vivarium or tank portion.
The clay walls or layers are made of lumps of rough clay placed crosswise or in
chequer form, and maintained in place by gratings of acacia wood or oak, some
placed perpendicularly others horizontally; the said walls should be contiguous.
The lumps of clay are at some parts maintained by perpendicular gratings of thick
wire.
Inside the boat the wall and the bottom, also the trays and the uprights, are all
covered with several coatings of a metallic composition. Strips of iron keep the
ends of the uprights in position wherever they are not secured to the deck-beams
or partitions.
The capacity of the air-chambers is based on the power of the pumps and the
volume of water in the boat when the exterior water does not act upon the paddle-
wheels. It is preferable to store compressed air, which can be utilized either
for causing the paddle-wheels to make a few revolutions when necessary, or for
other purposes.
Wells may be provided covered with gratings which are used for the purpose of
inspection; they contain compartments or trays of smaller sizes, which serve as
means for judging of the condition of the trays in the interior of the boat.
It is evident that the sides of the trays or compartments, which with the wire

page_text: .
netting form frames, should leave as much space as possible so as to give the netting
a large surface. If necessary, these sides may be strengthened externally by ribs
or fillets forming frames.
In front of the first breakwater partition there is a dividing apparatus composed
of thin plates of iron varying in number and fixed to the bottom and connected at
the top by cross tic-rods; they radiate from a common centre forming a fan-shaped
piece, which forces the stream of water to divide equally over the whole extent of
the vivarium. The said plates rise slightly above the water level.
For the navigating boat I may add, according to the breadth, a number of
longitudinal breakwater partitions to modify the sudden movement of the water
when the vessel rolls.
The deck-gratings may consist of four or any number of rows.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS AND APPARATUS FOR
THE CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION, AND CONVEYANCE OF OYSTERS AND OTHER
SHELL FISH." A communication from abroad by Victorin Accurse Louis De
Blandinière, of the Chateau de Bleys, Tarn, France.
This Invention has for its object an improved pontoon or floating vivarium
provided with metallic cases constructed of iron in sections, in such a manner as to
be very durable and capable of being taken to pieces, the same being designed for
use in the collection of spat or spawn, the rearing of oysters and other shell-fish,
and their transport while alive along the seacoast, and also for short distances in
rivers, canals, and other water-courses, while protecting them against the attacks of
crabs, star-fish, and the like.
The said Invention is also partly applicable to artificial oyster-beds, vivaria, and
other reservoirs for oysters and other shell-fish.
The said floating vivarium may be constructed in either of two ways, viz :--
1. As a navigable floating vivarium.
2. As a floating vivarium which remains moored in coves, bays, estuaries, and the
like, and which I term a vivarium-pontoon.
In the accompanying Drawing I have represented a navigable floating vivarium
in longitudinal section in Figure 1, and in horizontal section on the water line in
Figure 2.
This vivarium is formed with water-tight partitions a, and its interior contains
break-water partitions 6; angle iron uprights c are connected with the partitions
by the cross-pieces d. The break-water partitions are upon their entire surfaces
pierced by holes of twenty five (25) to thirty (30) inillimetres diameter.
The vivarium communicates with the sea at the bow by openings or passages A, A,
(Figure 2) and at the stern by the openings or passages B, B. Between the
passages A, A, there is a space or chamber M, which serves as a cable-hold or
as a receptacle for stores and the like. Between. the passages at the stern is
situated the engine-room N, and behind this a cabin P. The passages A, A,
and B, B, can be closed by means of gates or sluices V, which are operated from the
exterior. The water of this vivarium can be exhausted by means of pumps, which
are driven from the driving engine.
Around the vivarium, air-chambers Q are arranged. The cross-pieces & should
not extend over the watertight partitions, as they are to be attached thereto in
lengths.
As shown in Figure 2 the vivarium is at its rear provided with well pumps e, e,
and with a rounded or curved partition f, which serves to diminish the resistance
of the water which comes from the bow, and also to facilitate its flow to the exit-
passages. This partition frises only 0.50m above the water level.
The forward or bow gates or sluices are external so as to be caused to bear
against the passages by the pressure of the external sea water, whilst those aft or
at the stern are brought to bear against the passages by the pressure of the water
in the vivarium, All the sluices are operated from the deck of the vessel, either by
means of toothed gearing or by any other means, according to the manner in which
the vessel is built. The uprights c of angle iron serve as guides or slides, in which
the cases are held.
Figure 3 represents the pontoon-vivarium; the parts A, B, C, D, and M, N, are
shown at the level of the deck, whilst the other parts are shewn as in section on
the water-line; Figure 4 is an exterior view of this pontoon.

page_text: The pontoon-vivarium having constantly to remain at moorings its construction
need not be the same as that of the navigable boat. This vivarium is in communi-
cation with the sea by similar passages to those described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2, being formed by water-tight partitions, and closed by sluices or
gates V. QQ, Q, are in this construction also air-chambers, but the greater
number of these air-chambers which extend along the vivarium proper are utilized
for the reception of cases, which at the spawning season may be filled with
empty shells for collecting spat. The passages at the stern may be utilized in
like manner.
The deck S in all the parts of the pontoon is covered with oaken gratings, as
shewn in the parts M, N, in Figure 3; these gratings allow the rays of the sun
to pass.
The longitudinal water-tight partition extending through the centre of this
vivarium is at each side provided with a wall or cover g of clay held by netting of
This wall is arranged between the watertight partitions and the
stout iron wire.
uprights.
The arrangement of the angle-irons is substantially the same in both forms of
these vivaria.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and the arrangement of the cases,
which are applicable both to the vivarium boats and the vivarium pontoons, as well
as to oyster-beds and the like. One of these cases is shewn in perspective in
Figure 5 all the pieces are united by soft metal rivets, which it will be easy to
sever if any of the parts are to be replaced.
The corner pieces c are made of hardened or steeled cast iron, and the sides aro
made either of hardened cast iron or of hoop iron. The tie or cross piece X and
the tie or cross-piece Y are made of hoop iron; the spikes or pins / which are
fixed in the tie ✗ hold the wire-gauze partition, which is inserted into the tie or
cross piece Y. Wire-gauze-screens are fixed in the flanges i, provided on the
bottom and sides either by soft or hard soldering at a few points, as separately
illustrated in Figure 6. The height of the cases is from 4 to 5 centimetres.
case has fixed handles j. The handle j shewn in Figure 7 serves for lifting these
cases or carrying the same from place to place on the deck or oyster-beds or in like
places. The lid (Figure 8) will be required in oyster beds, vivaria, and the like.
It is placed on the topmost case, and is also provided with fixed handles j and with
flanges for the reception of wire gauze.
The
For guiding the cases in the slides formed by the uprights c in the vivarium, and
also for withdrawing the same, I use the instrument shewn in side elevation in
Figure 9, and in top view with part of the handle removed in Figure 10.
It consists of a handle m at the lower end of which a socket is mounted wherein
the cross-piece n is secured; this cross-piece has very nearly the length of that side
of the case to which the handle is fixed. The socket carries the swinging hooks o
provided with a counterweight; to the counterweight a cord p is attached, and
passes through the eyes 7, q, it being fastened to the pin or tag 7.
To lift a case and withdraw it from the vivarium the cord is pulled and fastened
to the pin 7. The cross-piece of the instrument is caused to slide along the uprights
and to bear against the same, the counterweight being turned towards the interior
of the box. As soon as the cross-piece touches the case the cord is released, and by
the action of the counter-weight the hooks of the implement take into the fixed
handle, and to lift the case it is then only necessary to raise the handle of the
instrument.
Figure 11 shows the interior arrangement of the vivarium. Upon the bottom a
of the boat or pontoon I place a layer at t of clay or slimy sand of 10 centimetres
thickness, and strew thereon small fragments of limestone. Above this there is a
sheet or stratum of water u of 5 centimetres height, in which are placed 3 or 4
layers of oysters according to their size, care being taken to leave about 1/3 of the
height free for allowing the circulation of water. Finally, I place over this the
first series of cases v filled to the extent of two thirds with oysters, and resting on

page_text: stops or shoulders upon the uprights c and supporting the other series of cases.
Above the last series of cases v¹ there is a sheet of water of 15 to 20 centimetres in
height.
In the navigable boat it will be advisable when at sea to leave a sheet of water
of 30 centimetres in height.
The whole surface of the vivarium proper in the boat, as well as in the pontoon,
is provided with a series of sight-holes or sky-lights formed by grates of stout iron
wire. A link-chain (K, Figure 12) passes through eyes H, H₁, and over the whole
length of the vessel; its end which is of soft metal is rivetted to a block I, and
precludes the oysters from being stolen by preventing access to all the openings.
At sea the navigable vivarium has solid panels pierced by air-pipes which open
into the vivarium.
Between the interior gates or sluices and the exterior ones there is a small
break-water partition, not shown in the Drawing, pierced by holes of 25 to 30
millimetres diameter.
The rounded partition placed in proximity to the well-pumps e, e, are solid on
the top, and only at the bottom pierced by holes of 25-30 millimetres diameter,
said holes forming only 3 or 4 rows from the foot or base of the pumps upwards.
The watertight partitions running along the vivarium on its two sides must be
offset, so as to reduce the width of the air-chambers by 20 centimetres, for allowing
walls of hand-beaten clay of about 15 centimetres thickness to be provided. These
walls are supported on the watertight partitions by grates of stout iron wire.
The angle-iron supports are fixed at the top in carlings or beams carrying the
panels of the vivarium.
In Figures 2 and 3 the parts x indicate chequerwork walls of rough clay
supported by trellis-work or bars of acacia or oak placed some vertically, and some
horizontally, and arranged in lozenge form; these walls are contiguous. At X', X¹,
pieces or lumps of clay are supported by vertical grating of stout iron wire.
In the interior of the vivarium the walls and the bottom, as well as the cases and
uprights, are covered with several layers of metallic coating. Struts or bands of
iron support the heads of the uprights where they are not held by the beams or
the partitions; the dimensions of the boxes depend upon the width between the
beams.
The capacity of the air-chambers is based on the power of the pumps, and the
volume of water contained in the hold of the vessel when the exterior water no
longer acts upon the float-boards. Any reserve of compressed air may be utilized
for operating the vessel if necessary, or for any other service on board of the vessel.
The wire grates at the bottom are also soldered either by hard or soft solder, as
above stated with reference to the sides.
I may also provide wells or manholes covered with grating and serving for
supervision; they would contain cases of smaller size, which serve to ascertain the
state of the cases in the interior of the vivaries.
It is clear that the sides of the cases which with the wire-gauze form the
framing thereof must have the greatest possible clearance, so as to afford the
greatest possible surface for the wire-gauze; if necessary these sides can be
strengthened on the outside by ribs forming frames.
On the front of the first breakwater partition (Figures 2 and 3) there is a
dividing apparatus J, consisting of a greater or less number of thin metal-plates
fixed at the bottom and united at the top by iron ties; they are arranged in the
shape of a fan so as to cause the stream of water to be equally divided upon the
whole extent of the vivarium. These plates rise slightly above the level of
the water.
In the navigable boat an even number of longitudinal breakwater partitions
have to be provided, according to the breadth of the vessel, so as to diminish the
effect of the sudden displacement of the water when the vessel is rolling.
The skylights in the deck are preferably in four rows, but may be in more or
fewer rows.

page_text: To allow day-light to penetrate to the oysters the pontoon is provided (as shown
in Figure 4) with port-holes placed at suitable distances apart and on both sides,
especially through the vivarium proper, under the water-line.
There may be one row of portholes or several according to the draught of the
vessel, and and I arrange such portholes in the manner usual in vessels of war, and
provide the same with thick glass fitted in sliding sashes placed in the interior of
the hull. A grating of stout iron-wire protects the panes of glass which close the
said port-holes; these panes may consist of several pieces. The sluices or gates at
the bow and stern must also be protected from the exterior by grating of stout
iron-wire, so as to prevent sea-plants getting into the slides. The upper walls or
roofs of the passages whereby the vivarium communicates with the exterior water
are to be arched.
For this vessel it will be advisable to provide solid movable partitions arranged
in slides behind the transverse breakwater partitions, so as to cause the water to
keep in place and thus to diminish the effect of pitching.
The number of solid longitudinal partitions may also be increased, so as to
diminish the displacement of water when the vessel is rolling during navigation.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I may vary the form and dimensions of the above described apparatus, and
the materials of which the parts thereof are constructed, without departing from
the principle of my Invention, and I claim,-
A boat or pontoon provided with removable metallic cases, substantially as set
forth, and constructed to serve either as a navigable or a stationary vessel, as and
for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, J, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.