A New or Improved Float or Buoy for Fishing Nets.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Float or Buoy for Fishing Nets.
We, EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE, of The Byrne Bros. India Rubber Co., Manor
Rubber Mills, Aston Cross, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, India
Rubber and Gutta Percha Manufacturers, and ROBERT FINLAYSON CHISHOLM
Foreman at Manor Rubber Mills aforesaid do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of a new or improved float or buoy for trawling and like
fishing nets the objects of our invention being to facilitate the carriage of the said
floats to and from the fishing ground and to obtain increased buoyancy and
durability.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we remark that floats
ordinarily employed consist of large pieces of cork or of air tight metallic vessels
or sheep skin vessels secured at intervals apart to the edges of the fishing net. In
consequence of the bulk of the said floats great inconvenience arises in the carriage
of the said nets and their floats and only a small number of nets can be accom-
modated at one time in the fishing boat. When air tight metallic vessels are used
they frequently get indented in use and their buoyancy thereby impaired and
sometimes are punctured in which case they lose their buoyancy. When sheep
skin vessels are injured they are difficult of repair.
In constructing a float or buoy according to our invention we make, preferably
of vulcanised india rubber having an insertion of canvas, a bladder which may be
inflated with air through a valve situated at that part which when the buoy is in
use is the bottom and below the surface of the water. A cord or rope embedded
in india rubber is attached by means of its ends to the sides of the buoy the ends
of the said cord or rope being preferably secured to the buoy in the vulcanizing
process. The middle of the cord is made into an eye having a metallic eyelet by
which the buoy is secured to the net.
Buoys made according to our invention have the advantages that they may be
carried to and from the fishing ground in a deflated state and be inflated at the
place where they are required to float either by means of an air pump or by the
fisherman blowing by his mouth. In taking in the nets the buoys are again
deflated and occupy but little room in the boat. Further the buoys may be made
of such a capacity that when inflated they will have a size and consequently a
buoyancy much greater than buoys of the ordinary kind and in consequence of
their flexibility and elasticity they are little liable to injury by contact with boats
or other obstacles, and in case of damage by puncture are very readily repaired
and made air tight.
Dated this Fourth day of January 1895.
Ww. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: A New or Improved Float or Buoy for Fishing Nets.
We, EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE, of The Byrne Bros. India Rubber Co., Manor
Rubber Mills, Aston Cross, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, India Rubber
and Gutta Percha Manufacturers, and ROBERT FINLAYSON CHISHOLM, Foreman
at Manor Rubber Mills, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 a new or improved float or buoy for trawling and like
fishing nets, the objects of our invention being to facilitate the carriage of the
said floats to and from the fishing ground and to obtain increased buoyancy and
durability.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we remark that floats
ordinarily employed consist of large pieces of cork or of air tight metallic vessels
or sheep skin vessels secured at intervals apart to the edges of the fishing net. In
consequence of the bulk of the said floats great inconvenience arises in the carriage
of the said nets and their floats and only a small number of nets can be accom-
modated at one time in the fishing boat. When air tight metallic vessels are used
they frequently get indented in use and their buoyancy thereby impaired and
sometimes are punctured in which case they lose their buoyancy. When sheep
skin vessels are injured they are difficult of repair.
In constructing a float or buoy according to our invention we make preferably
of vulcanised india rubber having an insertion of canvas, a bladder which may be
inflated with air through a valve situated at that part which when the buoy is in
use is the bottom and below the surface of the water. A cord or rope embedded
in india rubber is attached by means of its ends to the sides of the buoy the ends
of the said cord or rope being preferably secured to the buoy in the vulcanizing
process. The middle of the cord is made into an eye having a metallic eyelet by
which the buoy is secured to the net.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a float or buoy for fishing nets
constructed according to our invention before inflation and Figure 2 represents the
same after inflation.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both figures.
The said fishing buoy consists of a vulcanised india rubber bladder a the
vulcanised india rubber having preferably an insertion or lining of canvas or fabric
similar to that employed in some kinds of pneumatic tyres for wheels as is well
understood. The said bladder a is formed after the manner of a football bladder
so that before inflation it is flat; when inflated it has the figure of an oblate
spheroid the shorter diameter of which is preferably of from 14 to 20 inches in
length but we do not limit ourselves to this size. The said bladder a is provided
with an inlet pipe and valve bat bottom the construction of which valve constitutes
no part of our invention. The valve represented is an ordinary screw down air
valve but an automatic closing valve for preventing the return of the compressed
air may be employed. Through the said inlet pipe and valve the said bladder a is
inflated and deflated as desired. To opposite parts of the underside of the
bladder a the ends of a cord c embedded in vulcanised india rubber are attached
the attachment being effected by pads or ear pieces c³ affixed to the bladder during
the process of vulcanisation. The middle portion of the cord c is formed into an
eye c² by means of the binding cord d the said eye c2 embracing a metallic eyelet e.
By means of the said eyelet e the bladder a is connected to the fishing net the
edges of which are to be floated.
Instead of using on the bladder a a cord c as described and represented for the
purpose of attaching the buoy to the fishing net, the cord c may be dispensed with

page_text: and the bladder a be contained in a bag or envelope, preferably of net work,
provided at the lower side with an eye or loop by which the buoy is attached to
the fishing net.
The buoy is preferably coated after vulcanization with paint or other like
protecting coating.
Buoys made according to our invention have the advantages that they may be
carried to and from the fishing ground in a deflated state and be inflated at the
place where they are required to float either by means of an air pump or by the
fisherman blowing by his mouth. In taking in the nets the buoys are again
deflated and occupy but little room in the boat. Further, the buoys may be made
of such a capacity that when inflated they will have a size and consequently a
buoyancy much greater than buoys of the ordinary kind and in consequence of
their flexibility and elasticity they are little liable to injury by contact with boats
or other obstacles, and in case of damage by puncture are very readily repaired
and made air-tight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
as our invention;―
The new or improved float or buoy for fishing nets herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the said float or buoy consisting essentially
of an india rubber bladder having preferably an insertion or lining of canvas or
the like, the said bladder being provided at bottom with a valve through which
the bladder is inflated and deflated and also with a depending cord and eye by
means of which the buoy or float is attached to the fishing net; or enveloping the
bladder in a bag or envelope preferably of net work for the purpose of attaching
the buoy to the fishing net substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the Fourteenth day of September 1895.
EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE.
ROBERT FINLAYSON CHISHOLM.